Chelsea have lost two midfielders this week.
Jiri Jarosik won't return to Stamford Bridge according to reports attributed to manager Jose Mourinho.
Jarosik is on loan at Birmingham and has stated he would like to stay at the Midlands club but only if they avoid relegation from the Premiership.
Jarosik joined Chelsea from CSKA Moscow for a reported £3m in January 2005 but made only 20 appearances for the Blues.
Alexey Smertin has gone to Dynamo Moscow for £1m.
The midfielder has spent this season on loan at Charlton.
The Russian skipper, 30, has signed a three-year deal with his new club.
Smertin had one year left on his Chelsea contract and nine weeks remaining on his loan deal at The Valley.
Smertin signed for Chelsea for £3.45m in the summer of 2003 from Bordeaux.
This activity has paved the way for the arrival of Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich in the summer.
The money saved on wages to Jaroisik and Smertin will now be directed towards meeting the £120,000 a week demands from the German midfielder.
Good business all round some might say.