Yossi Benayoun wants Chelsea to lower their asking price in order for him to be able to complete a move away from the club this summer.

The former Liverpool midfielder only returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of last season after spending the last campaign on-loan at Arsenal.

However, since returning to Stamford Bridge he has seen a number of midfielders arrive at the club and he fears that he will be unable to force his way into the plans of Roberto di Matteo.

Yossi Benayoun
Benayoun wants to leave Chelsea before the transfer window closes [Reuters]

The Daily Mail has reported that Chelsea are holding out for a bid of £3million, but Benyoun wants them to accept a lower offer so that he can move to a club where he stands a better chance of playing first team football.

The Israel international was left out of the Chelsea squad for the Community shield defeat to Manchester City, while he was once again overlooked for the first game of the season against Wigan last Sunday.

Chelsea face Reading on Wednesday night and it is once again unlikely that Benayoun will be included in the squad, with Di Matteo now having plenty of options with the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata.

Di Matteo was asked to comment on the future of Benayoun and Florent Malouda recently, with the Italian suggesting that the players should be prepared to fight for their place in the first team.

"At the moment it's just a selection issue," Di Matteo told ESPN. "We have a lot of competition and a lot of players in certain areas. That's what it is at the moment, a fight for places.

"I tend to speak to all the players. We have conversations and they are Chelsea players and part of the squad at the moment. We will have to see, but until the transfer window closes they are with us and they are part of it."

Benayoun still has one-year remaining on his contract but would like to leave in the coming weeks before the transfer window closes.