Posted on July 11th, 2009 by Chelsea D
It’s no wonder Man City insist they’re in with a shout of signing John Terry if he’s not going to publicly deny it.
The Chelsea captain has apparently met with Carlo Ancelotti and Eugene Tenenbaum for talks and yet remains tight-lipped about his future. Obviously the press have made a big deal about neither Abramovich nor Kenyon being at Cobham to join in the chat but surely Terry should know if he wants to stay at Chelsea regardless of who’s around for him to tell.
According to the press, Terry’s a little disappointed we’ve brought in players like Turnball, Sturridge and Zhirkov instead of the David Villa’s and Franck Ribery’s of the footballing world and he wants reassurances we’ll be bringing in more quality players before the transfer window closes.
Mind you, that’s not the only reassurance Terry’s after because you’d have to suspect the reason this has been strung out as long as it has already is to see what lengths Chelsea will go to, to keep him. You see, with Man City already having made an offer and just waiting for the slightest bit of encouragement to offer a bit more, Terry’s got the club over a bit of a barrel – either they prove they love him the most or risk him leaving.
I don’t know about anyone else but I can’t help thinking about Frank Lampard last summer – ok, his was around holding out on signing a new contract but we still had to endure the Mourinho v Chelsea battle to see who could prove their love the most. As we all know, it was Chelsea who won that particular battle with a pretty substantial deal eventually making Lampard’s mind up for him and I can only imagine we’ll be seeing a remake of last year’s saga with John Terry playing the leading role this time round.
Am I being cynical? Because I’m sure I’ll get battered for even daring to think our captain would dream of such underhand tactics to get what he wants but on the other hand, when he knows as ‘Mr Chelsea’ he above all others would be expected to pledge his future to Chelsea, he seems to be taking a bloody long time to do it!
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Posted on July 10th, 2009 by Chelsea D
Joe Cole’s season might have ended four months early, with him also having to wait until the summer to discuss a new contract but it seems any hopes Spurs had that these talks wouldn’t take place, are about to be shattered.
According to recent reports, talks are already underway and the club are expected to announce the signing of a new four year deal in the near future.
Always committed to the cause, Joe Cole has been working his arse off to recover from last season’s knee injury and although he’s not expected to be fully fit for the opening game of the season, it’s not for the want of trying.
Another four years from a player who clearly loves being at Chelsea as much as Cole does has to be a good move on the club’s part as far as I’m concerned.
Filed under: Current Players, Rumours | 14 Comments »
Posted on July 10th, 2009 by Chelsea D
According to Skysports yesterday, John Obi Mikel has just signed a new five year deal.
Chelsea had apparently wanted to tie him down to a new deal at the end of last year although for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. Obviously that led to the usual speculation in the press, with Mourinho’s name popping up in connection with our 22 year old midfielder at the end of the season.
Mikel wasn’t as much of a key player once Essien returned from his spell out injured last season although he certainly did a good enough job in the Makelele role during the Bison’s lengthy absence. So fair play to the club if they have secured his services for another five years.
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Posted on July 9th, 2009 by Chelsea D
Ok, so the award for most ridiculous story of the day yesterday has to go to the Daily Mail – because according to them, Chelsea are about to offer £70million for Franck Ribery.
Bayern Munich are apparently claiming to have turned a bid down for Ribery already – and the suggestion is it wasn’t from Real Madrid. Still, with both Barcelona and Manchester United both interested as well, the ‘bid’ could have come from anyone.
Bayern have also allegedly suggested they’re putting a deadline of next week on any deals for the 26 year old to be agreed although you’d have to imagine that for £70million Chelsea won’t be in the running….
Or will they?
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Posted on July 9th, 2009 by Chelsea D
So, the John Terry saga rolls on:
The Times tells us he’s due for showdown talks with Ancelotti.
Meanwhile the BBC clear up any nonsense about the club failing to keep JT informed.
The Guardian reckon City are waiting for Terry to make some kind of public announcement before they embarrass themselves with yet another bid.
Whilst the Telegraph are blaming it all on Umbro.
Filed under: Current Players, Rants, Rumours | 2 Comments »
Posted on July 7th, 2009 by Chelsea D
After weeks of speculation – and the odd bit of stirring in the press – Chelsea have finally announced this evening that Yuri Zhirkov has signed on a three year contract.
It seems our new left-sided utility man has yet to master the language although he has said on the official website (presumably via an interpreter) “Any footballer would be happy to sign a contract with Chelsea, and at any time. I have been received very well here, and have been shown the base at the Cobham training ground, everything is super. Of course it is good when some of the players speak Russian, even today Petr Cech translated some bits and pieces, and I understand some words in English. Now I hope to learn English too”.
The fee for the 25 year is believed to be in the region of £18million, so let’s hope the new season shows he’s worth every penny.
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Posted on July 5th, 2009 by Chelsea D
Whilst rumours abound over which players might or might not be leaving Chelsea, it seems the search goes on for players to bring in.
One player Ancelotti is rumoured to be considering is Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. The 23 year old scored 26 goals for Wolfsburg last season, helping them to the Bundesliga title and is fast earning himself a reputation as one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe.
As with Yuri Zhirkov, who’s apparently expected at Stamford Bridge for a medical, Milan also have their eye on him but Chelsea are said to be confident that their planned bid of £20million will be enough to see him come to Stamford Bridge.
Another player rumoured to be in Ancelotti’s sights is Real Madrid winger Wesley Sneijder. Although the 25 year old doesn’t seem all that keen on leaving, he says “I’d like to stay and hope coach Manuel Pellegrini will give me a chance but there are many rumours.” And with those rumours rife following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, it seems Chelsea are prepared to try their luck.
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Posted on July 5th, 2009 by Chelsea D
How shrewd are Chelsea eh?
Amid the growing speculation over a possible move to Man City for John Terry, whilst supporters are in full blown panic mode, the club are opting for the pragmatic approach – and it has to be said it’s a pretty smart move on their part.
You see, whilst the club’s official line is to insist they still do not want to sell the Chelsea captain, with some pretty strong rumours flying around suggesting it was the player himself who put the feelers out in the first place, Chelsea look to be calling his bluff. City are alleged to have already offered £30million, with an improved offer said to be imminent and Chelsea’s stance now is that if Terry wants to leave Stamford Bridge he can do so under two conditions – the first is that City would have to pay £45million and the second is that Terry has to hand in a transfer request.
Brilliant bit of PR there by the club really because whilst £45million for a central defender with a bit of a dodgy back, really would be hard to turn down, Terry’s position at the club – particularly with the supporters – also makes it almost impossible for the club to accept. On the other hand, if they can force Terry’s hand by getting him to hand in a transfer request – thereby admitting to the supporters that he wants to leave – then the club can’t lose.
Terry’s contract doesn’t run out until 2012 and whilst the club might be open to a bit of a pay rise – if that’s what all this is really about – there’s no way they’d be prepared to compete with the rumoured £280,000-£300,000 a week City are willing to pay.
So, I guess the ball has been put firmly in ‘Mr Chelsea’s’ court.
Filed under: Current Players, Rants, Rumours | 11 Comments »
Posted on July 4th, 2009 by Chelsea D
Even after the obscene amount of money Real Madrid have spent so far since the close of season, rumour has it they’re wetting themselves at the prospect of slinging some of their millions Chelsea’s way – for Ashley Cole.
Apparently, the Chelsea left-back has turned down the offer of a new deal because it’d leave him about £30,000 shy of our top earners. I won’t get too carried away by a story in The Sun but I suppose there’s a bit of me thinking this is ‘Cashley’ we’re talking about here, so it’s little wonder it’s got Real’s attention as well.
Anyway, our old friend ‘the source’ reliably informs us “Ashley loves Chelsea and is genuinely excited about working with new boss Carlo Ancelotti. He wants to give the best years of his career to the club but the deal has to be right for such an important contract. He needs to feel as valued as any of the club’s other top players.”
And so, I suppose if we’re offering him some paltry deal where we expect him to scrape by on a measly £100,000 a week, then it’s not really surprising Pellegrini is rumoured to be sniffing around.
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Posted on July 4th, 2009 by Chelsea D
It’s starting to look as if after just one season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea could have a bit of a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of Jose Bosingwa.
To be fair, the former Porto player’s nose must be severely put out of joint right now, seeing as not only does he seem to still be at the club because we didn’t sign Glen Johnson, but also because Bayern Munich didn’t take him as a sweetener in the deal we’d hoped to do over Franck Ribery.
Bosingwa is still under contract with us until 2011, however, Bayern Munich are in the market for a decent right-back and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge remains interested in the 26 year old (albeit not with a view to us signing Ribery) and says “we are convinced about Bosingwa and that he would fit in really well at FC Bayern. I don’t think the book has been closed on this issue yet.”
So, with the clubs said to remain in “serious contact”, I guess we’ll just have to see what happens with this one.
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