Chelsea

Real fail in bid to land Lampard
Frank Lampard's agent has claimed that Real Madrid offered £20m, plus England striker Michael Owen and midfielder Santiago Solari for the Chelsea star. However, the Blues turned down the bid for the 27-year-old midfielder. Agent Steve Kutner told the News of the World: "It is very flattering for Frank to be wanted by a club as big as Real. "But Frank has just had an incredible season at Chelsea and as long as they want him he will give everything to help them win more and more trophies." Lampard moved to Stamford Bridge from West Ham in an £11m deal in June 2001 and since then has become an integral part of the Chelsea team. The England star helped his side clinch the Carling Cup and the Premiership title last season - Chelsea's first top-flight crown in 50 years. And in May he was rewarded for his efforts by winning the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award. It is believed that Real were ready to up his wages from a reported £80,000-a-week to £90,000-a-week, while also offering him an image rights package. The bid would also seem to suggest that former Liverpool striker Owen may no longer have a future at Real. The 25-year-old had always insisted that he was happy at the Bernabeu. However, he did admit earlier this month that he would have to leave if the team was strengthened and he could not be guaranteed a regular place. Owen was linked with a move to Manchester United but Old Trafford assistant manager Carlos Queiroz dismissed the reports.

Juve set sights on Gunner Vieira
Juventus have admitted that they want to sign Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. The Italian champions have rejected a £30m approach from Chelsea for striker David Trezeguet, 27, and are instead intent on strengthening their squad. To that end, Juve managing director Luciano Moggi has identified Vieira, 29, as a potential summer target. "What we want is a midfield partner for Emerson - and our wish is to buy Vieira if Arsenal are willing to sell," Moggi is quoted as saying in The Sun. "Obviously, they will not let him go cheaply as he is a magnificent, winning midfielder but if Arsenal are willing to do business, we'd buy him tomorrow." Chelsea turned to Trezeguet - Juve's third-choice frontman behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero - after failing to lure Samuel Eto'o or Andrei Shevchenko from Barcelona and AC Milan respectively. Blues boss Jose Mourinho continued his search after both Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman failed to impress last season, despite Chelsea's Premiership title triumph. But Moggi dismissed the approach out of hand. "They made a formal offer for Trezeguet but none of our 'champion' players is for sale," he said. As Juventus claimed they had rejected an approach from Chelsea for Trezeguet, Mourinho was admitting it was becoming more difficult to sign top stars, even with Roman Abramovich's financial firepower. He told Portuguese children's programme Morangos com Acucar (Strawberries with Sugar): "It is very difficult for Chelsea to sign players because the team is already good and great clubs want to keep their best players. "In the last three years, I said I was going to win the league and I didn't miss and probably there are a lot of people who are waiting for that moment. But I suspect I will win it again next year."

Chelsea suffer new Essien setback
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted midfielder Michael Essien will not be sold to Chelsea. Aulas claimed Essien is staying as new boss Gerard Houllier signed striker John Carew from Besiktas in a £5m deal. He said: "I have always said that Essien and Mahamadou Diarra will stay. There were a lot of frustrating rumours for me." Chelsea are reported to have had a £16.75m offer for 22-year-old Essien turned down by Lyon. Aulas wants to build Houllier's new side around Essien and Diarra and said: "I confirm that they will stay, as well as Juninho. Having all of them in our team makes it stronger than before." He added: "The best recruitment starts by keeping the team's best players, and that's what we've done." Carew, 26, has signed a four-year contract after also having spells playing for AS Roma in Italy and Valencia in Spain. "We had talks on Saturday and then all Sunday with the player and Besiktas management," said Aulas. "It's great news for Lyon. He has been one of the club's priorities for several seasons but we were never able to see it through. "We are very happy with the conclusion. He will boost the squad wth so much power and speed." Houllier said: "For us it's a chance to take him and for him an opportunity to rebound after two or three average seasons on his part."

Kezman completes Atletico switch
Mateja Kezman has completed his move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid. The 26-year-old Serbia & Montenegro striker joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for a deal believed to be worth £5m and has moved on for £5.3m. Kezman has signed a three-year deal with the Spain club after failing to earn a regular first-team Chelsea spot. "I'm happy to have come to a club that was once bigger than Chelsea and that will be bigger than them again in the future," said Kezman. He added: "It's a pity for Chelsea that I didn't get the chance to play and that's why I decided to move." Kezman scored four goals for the Blues and started only four games while coming on as a substitute 27 times. The striker made his name with Partizan Belgrade before joining PSV in 2000 for a four-year spell in which he scored 105 goals. Meanwhile, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has extended his contract with Barcelona until 2010, the Primera Liga champions have revealed. The 24-year-old, who scored 24 goals last season, turned down an offer to join English champions Chelsea earlier in June.

Madrid dismiss Owen exit rumours
Real Madrid have moved to end rumours about the future of Michael Owen by insisting the striker is not for sale. The 25-year-old, who has had limited Bernabeu starts, has been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. But Real director of football Arrigo Sacchi told the Daily Star: "Owen is not for sale because he is part of our coach Wanderley Luxemburgo's plans. "Some things written about who is coming to and leaving Real are almost as incredible as science fiction." Sacchi said that Owen remained content in Madrid. "Owen has not told us he is unhappy or that he wants to leave and that is what really matters to us, not what stories appear in the press. "He has signed a contract and he is a very professional player. "Since I have been at Madrid I have never heard him complain - not even when he was not in the first team and, like all players, wanted to play more minutes." And Sacchi denied that Chelsea had been pursuing Owen or any of their players. "Chelsea have not been in touch with us to make an offer for him, or in recent times for any of our players."

Perrin mulls over move for Cole
Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin has told BBC Radio Solent he is likely to make a decision on Chelsea striker Carlton Cole after the weekend. The Frenchman said negotiations are on-going with the Stamford Bridge club about the 21-year-old forward. But Perrin added the club are scouring the world for a replacement for Yakubu, who has moved to Middlesbrough. "We've not got a deal with Cole yet," he said. "Maybe we can take him but we're not sure at the moment." He added: "We have to look at the other strikers we can take, maybe we will make a decision after the weekend." "We have some possibilities with foreign players, there's an Argentine and a couple of French strikers. "We have many possibilities but we don't want to talk about that because we are in negotiations." The Pompey boss has ruled out a move for the Mali international Mamaduo Bagayoko. Pompey were thought to be interested in the Nantes striker, but Perrin says he was never a realistic target. He said: "Bagayoko was not on our list, he was offered to the club but he is not in my plans."

Striker Kezman angry at Mourinho
Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman has accused boss Jose Mourinho of not giving him a fair chance at success. The Serbia & Montenegro star joined Atletico Madrid after failing to live up to his potential at Chelsea. But Kezman, who scored the winner in the Carling Cup final, said: "I scored one of the most important goals and helped bring Chelsea a trophy. "But after that I was on the bench again. I want to play and Mourinho wasn't going to give me a chance." Kezman also made it clear he feels he has moved on to a better club in Atletico. He added: "I'm happy to have come to a club that was once bigger than Chelsea and will be bigger than them again in the future." However, he was less scathing about the fans he leaves behind - and even admitted they did not see the best of him. "I'm very sad because of all the supporters in Chelsea, but it was a year with a lot of stress, " he said. "For one year they were all behind me. I owe them more goals - one day it might happen, I might be back to Chelsea, you never know."

Chelsea target to stay with Milan
Chelsea target Kakha Kaladze looks set to stay with AC Milan after agreeing a new long-term contract at the San Siro. Milan deputy chief executive Ariedo Braida announced the 27-year-old's deal, which will keep him at the Italian giants until 2010. Chelsea were keen to sign left-back Kaladze until they swooped for Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao. Braida offered no news on the progress regarding Hernan Crespo, the Chelsea striker who wants to join Milan.

Police bill may stop Wigan debut
Wigan Athletic has been warned its first Premiership game, against Chelsea, is likely to be cancelled in an ongoing row over policing costs. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will withdraw cover unless the Latics pay just under £300,000 by 1 August. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas said on Friday there have been "lengthy negotiations" over the debt. Wigan Athletic's owner Dave Whelan said he feels the bills to police the JJB Stadium are unfair. Mr Thomas said negotiations with club over the issue have come nowhere near reaching an agreement. Unless the outstanding fees are paid...we will not be able to police matches Mr Whelan's team is due to debut in the Premiership on 13 August against title-holders Chelsea. A compromise was agreed to cover the end of last season while discussions continued over settling the debt. However, the Police Authority has started debt proceedings against the club. GMP said it has been told by legal advisers to stop providing a service at the club's matches while debt recovery proceedings were under way. Mr Thomas said: "It has been a period of lengthy negotiations, and we believed a compromise was reached at the end of the last season. "The club agreed to pay for the last four games of last season but there is still an outstanding debt of just under £300,000. "Unfortunately, we are now in the position that unless the outstanding fees are paid, and a written undertaking is given that the club will continue to pay by August 1 2005, we will not be able to police the matches. The club said it is not prepared to pay at this stage. However, it confirmed it will put the money into a holding fund and let the courts decide if the debt should be settled.

Lyon hint at Essien transfer deal
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted any club interested in signing Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien will have to pay more than £26m. French sports daily L'Equipe has reported Chelsea have already lodged a £26m for the 22-year-old midfielder. Aulas told L'Equipe: "Even at £26m I will not sell Michael Essien. The offer will have to be considerably higher." Last season Essien was voted Player of the Year by France's National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP). Essien is one of the most sought-after players in Europe after another impressive campaign for Lyon, who have just captured their fourth successive Ligue 1 title. Apart from Chelsea the midfielder was linked with numerous clubs throughout last season, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Striker Crespo in Chelsea claim
Chelsea are trying to persuade Hernan Crespo to return to Stamford Bridge. Crespo, who spent last season on loan with AC Milan, wants to stay in Italy and has offered to take a cut in wages. But the 29-year-old striker told The People newspaper: "Chelsea are trying to convince me to go back but what I really want to do is stay in Italy. "I never had a problem with boss Jose Mourinho. I have not spoken to him but I have been told it is possible he has changed his opinion of me." During the summer Chelsea have been linked with a host of strikers, including Fernando Torres, David Trezeguet, Andriy Shevchenko, Adriano and Samuel Eto'o. But having sold Mateja Kezman to Atletico Madrid last week and with Chelsea due to start pre-season training on 6 July, manager Mourinho has been unable to strengthen his striking options. Crespo, who turns 30 on 5 July, has been a big hit for Milan, scoring twice in the Champions League final defeat at the hands of Liverpool and is loathe to return to London. "I'm having the worst summer of my life because I don't know at what club I will be at in two weeks time," he added. "Since losing the Champions League final the only good thing that has happened has been my wedding." Crespo signed for Chelsea in 2003 for £16.8m.

Mourinho makes spending admission
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes that he may not need to splash out on players in the future. Mourinho, who has spent £100m since he took over as manager last summer, told GQ magazine: "Chelsea in the future won't need this kind of budget. "I'll bet that in the last year of my five-year deal we won't buy a player. Next season, we'll buy maybe two or three; the season after, one or two. "The next season we'll buy one and after that we won't need any." The Portuguese manager also said that he had challenged his players ahead of last season to prove they were good enough to win something - a strategy he felt could have backfired. "I put myself in the firing line straight away by saying things that some people understand and some don't," he added. "Like, for example, 'I'm special', 'I want to win in the first season', 'I don't care about the power of Manchester United and Arsenal', and 'I don't care that no-one in English football was champion in the first season'." "I might have put myself in the spotlight but, at the same time, I woke up my people and I also put them under a little bit of pressure. "I said: 'All of you are top players, but nobody won a Premiership or a Champions League, and you are not successful players until you win.' "So I made them think. I hurt them a bit but I created a big ambition in the team. It was risky but it worked." Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge after winning the Champions League and the Portuguese title with his previous club, Porto. "The Italian league is the tactical league," said Mourinho. "The Spanish league is the technical league. The English league is about passion. "When I thought I could have success here it is because I thought I could mix that English passion with tactical organisation and so our team became tactical. "Boring for some, I don't know why, but tactical. To be fair, I think we are the best team in history because we beat the record (number of points in a Premier League season)."

Chelsea set to miss out on Essien
Lyon midfielder Michael Essien appears to have missed out on his dream move to the Premiership this summer, according to the player's agent. Essien, 22, has been the subject of a reported £26m bid from Chelsea, while Manchester United have also shown interest in the Ghana international. But agent Fabien Piveteau told BBC Sport: "The chairman of Lyon wants to keep the player for one more year. "It's not a problem because he's a young player and Lyon is a good club." He added: "If it is possible to leave for a big club in England then that is better, but the problem is it is not Michael deciding and it is not me." Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had earlier told French sports daily L'Equipe that any offer would have to be "considerably higher" than £26m. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admitted he would be looking to bolster his midfield before next season and appeared to have earmarked Essien for that role. But with the Blues now seemingly turning their attentions to Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, it appears Essien could be set to stay with the French champions. Piveteau added: "For now there is no news. We have not heard anything from Chelsea. "There were reports in England that Manchester United had renewed their interest. I don't know if it's true or not." Last season Essien was voted Player of the Year by France's National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP).

Chelsea fail in £32m Gerrard bid
Liverpool will turn down Chelsea's £32m offer for unsettled Steven Gerrard. Anfield chief executive Rick Parry told BBC Sport that Chelsea had made a bid for Liverpool's 25-year-old captain, who has told the Reds he wants to quit. He said: "I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us." Chelsea then said: "Following comments from Rick Parry, Chelsea can confirm the club has made an offer to Liverpool for the transfer of Steven Gerrard." The statement from the Premiership champions, posted on their website, added: "The terms of that offer are confidential." Gerrard met a high-level Liverpool delegation, led by Parry and chairman David Moores, on Monday evening after the England star's advisors called off contract negotiations earlier in the day. They made Gerrard the biggest contract offer in the club's history - a two-year extension to his current deal, which already has two years to run, on £100,000 per week. They were told he would go away and sleep on the deal - but he told Parry on Tuesday he wanted to leave. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has made it clear the club do not need to cash in on their prize asset to fund other deals. "We don't need more money - we don't need to sell Stevie," he told www.liverpoolfc.tv. "We have a clear idea of who we want and the players want to come here and play for the European champions. "Maybe we need a little, but not too much - we don't need a lot more money. The fans need to understand that. "My idea is that we want him to stay - that is what the chief executive and the board all want. We will talk with the player, the agent and we will try to find a solution. We will try right until the end." Real Madrid confirmed their interest on Tuesday in the England star, who has two years left on his current deal at Anfield. They now appear set for a bidding war with Chelsea for the services of Gerrard, who is thought to be upset that Liverpool did not place a high enough priority on the contract negotiations. Chelsea's offer was higher than the previous British record buy, which was set at £29.1m when Manchester United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002. But the feeling in Spain has always been that Gerrard would not leave Liverpool for another English club - which has encouraged Real. Bernabeu director of football Arrigo Sacchi said on Monday: "Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn't?" But Sacchi suggested Gerrard would have to hand in a formal transfer request first. "Until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services." Sacchi also rubbished rumours that Real and Chelsea had a deal aimed at keeping the price down for Gerrard. He said: "We have no agreement with Chelsea. How could we when our clubs are always interested in the same players?" According to reports, Gerrard currently earns £60,000 per week at Anfield. It is claimed Real will pay him up to £130,000 per week, with Chelsea going no higher than £90,000. Liverpool chiefs are thought to be surprised at the speed with which negotiations to keep their captain dissolved. Parry said on Monday: "We still hope this situation is repairable. We are completely surprised by the comments (from Gerrard's agent). "Rafa Benitez wants Steven to stay and couldn't have made it any clearer. "We have made it clear since January we wanted to talk to Steven about a new contract. "For anyone to make an issue of a delay of just a few days makes no sense. When we met on Wednesday, things were fine. "We have wanted to keep Steven all along. There has never been any suggestion we wanted to sell him. "Money is not an issue. There are no financial concerns regarding Steven's contract so any suggestion to the contrary is wrong." And Benitez, speaking at a media conference to announce four new signings, added: "We tried last season three times to talk to Steve about a new deal and he said we need to wait." Meanwhile England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told BBC Radio Five Live that Gerrard's chances of being picked for the national team would not be affected if he chose to join Real Madrid. "Look at David Beckham, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves. They are playing outside (England) and playing well in the national team every time they are picked - and they are always picked."

I want to leave Anfield - Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has told Liverpool he wants to leave Anfield after turning down a new £100,000-a-week contract. The 25-year-old captain made his move after Liverpool rejected a £32m bid from Premiership champions Chelsea. A Liverpool club statement read: "The club has made it crystal clear we want to keep Steven at Anfield. "Sadly, he has told us that he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave," the statement added. Gerrard delivered the news to Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry via his agent, Struan Marshall. And Parry said: "We desperately want to keep Stevie and we've told him we don't want him to leave. However, in rejecting our offer of a new contract he has indicated he wants to go." Gerrard has two years left on his current contract which is worth a reported £60,000 per week. He was in talks with the club to extend that deal by a further two years until Monday when his agent announced that negotiations were ending and were "unlikely to be re-opened". That apparently came because Gerrard felt his boyhood club had not placed enough of a priority on the talks. Later on Monday Gerrard had a meeting with chief executive Parry and chairman David Moores, who made a last-ditch offer of £100,000-per-week to keep their captain at Anfield. They were told he would go away and sleep on the deal - but he told Parry on Tuesday he wanted to leave. By then Chelsea had already made their offer - which is now set to become only the start of a bidding war between the London club and Spanish giants Real Madrid. Madrid confirmed their interest on Tuesday but said he would have to put in an official transfer request before they got involved. Gerrard's confirmation that he did indeed want out would be sure to bring the Bernabeu club to the negotiating table. The previous British record buy was set at £29.1m when Manchester United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002.

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