West Ham Join Chelsea In Race To Sign Neymar

West Ham have joined Chelsea in acquiring Brazilian wonderkid Neymar - only to be warned they must obliterate their transfer record to sign the 18-year-old.

The Santos forward has been inevitably compared to Pele and is widely seen as the country's most talented teenager for silky skills and eye for goal.

Manchester City secured first option on Neymar when they allowed Robinho to join Santos on loan, while Chelsea and Real Madrid have closely tracked him for some time.

Sources in Brazil say West Ham have made informal enquiries in the last few days as they search for a striker.

However, Santos believe that it is at least 12 months too soon to sell their brightest prospect and insist they will not consider a deal for less than his £28.4million release clause.

Any deal is complicated by Santos owning just 60 per cent of Neymar's rights and restrictive rules following the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano mean that English suitors would have to buy out the remaining 40 per cent from an investment group.

The future of his highly rated team-mate Paulo Henrique Ganso is more fluid.

City also has a first-option on the 20-year-old, dubbed the 'New Kaka', but Lyon have joined AC Milan and Real Madrid in stepping up their interest.

Manchester United's scouts in Brazil have also been impressed by a player who was on the standby list to go to the World Cup despite national coach Dunga consistently overlooking youth in favour of experience.

Ganso has an even bigger buy-out clause than Neymar and Santos would expect a hefty fee, but the playmaker recently refused to consider his future beyond the Brazilian Cup final on August 4.

Blackpool Chasing Chelsea’s Scott Sinclair & West Ham United’s Danny Gabbidon

Premier League newcomers Blackpool are lining up moves for Chelsea forward Scott Sinclair and West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon, according to the News of the World.

Pool boss Ian Holloway first discovered Sinclair as a 10-year-old during his spell as manager of Bristol Rovers before signing him on loan at Plymouth Argyle in 2007.

Sinclair caught the eye during his stay at Home Park, but has since been loaned out five times, including a season-long loan deal at Wigan Athletic last year where he started just one league game.

Meanwhile, Gabbidon has also emerged as a target for Blackpool after an injury-hit four years at Upton Park.

The Welshman missed the second half of both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns before missing the entire of the next season through injury.

He made his long-awaited return to the West Ham first team last season but made just 11 appearances as injury hampered his season once again.

Chelsea Target Charles Kabore Staying With Olympique De Marseille

Marseille midfielder Charles Kabore has ruled out a move to Chelsea, claiming he wants to stay with the French champions.

The Burkina Faso international had also been linked with several Premier League clubs, including Sunderland, West Brom and Stoke City, but the 22-year-old has ruled out a move to England for the immediate future.

“I want to prolong my stay with Marseille. I love this club and want to do well here,” Kabore told Sky Sports News.

"We will have a great chance next season to win the league again and challenge for the Champions League, so I want to be part of that."

Kabore joined Marseille in January in 2008 and played a key role in Didier Deschamps' Ligue 1 winning side last season.

Harry Looking To Swipe Cole From Under Arsenal's Nose

Harry Redknapp has tried to gazump Arsenal in the fight for Joe Cole.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has put together a package which they believe can lure the England midfielder to White Hart Lane ahead of their north London rivals.

Redknapp is a huge fan of Cole and has urged Levy to sign his former West Ham protege after the 28-year-old was released by Chelsea.

Levy does not want to go above the current £60,000-a-week wage structure.

But they have put forward an offer to Cole’s advisers which includes a signing-on fee, loyalty and success bonuses which will make it the best pay deal at the club.

Tottenham outcast Robbie Keane, a target for Aston Villa and Birmingham, is the club’s top earner on £60,000-a-week but Ledley King has also agreed a new deal which puts him on a par even though it includes a pay-as-you-play element.

Redknapp believes his squad needs strengthening for next season’s Champions League and would dearly love to get Cole.

Cole has also attracted interest from Arsenal - but only if they can offload another of their forwards with Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky both available at the right price.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Inter Milan are keen but Cole has made it clear that he will make a decision on football rather than financial reasons and that he is desperate for a manager who will show “faith” in him.

Redknapp believes his relationship with Cole could yet prove to be the trump card even though bigger clubs are interested and they may be able to offer bigger contracts.

Arsenal would be a big draw but Cole insisted after England’s World Cup exit that no deal has yet been agreed although Arsene Wenger is monitoring developments closely and has made enquiries.

Cole wants to play through the middle to boost his international chances and is keen to get at least a three-year deal but says he will decide on his future in a fortnight after going on holiday.

No Fifa Apology After Lampard Goal Howler

World Cup organisers are refusing to apologise for the shocking refereeing decision that saw England’s second goal against Germany not given.

For 20 minutes, Fifa spokesman Nicolas Maingot refused to answer questions on the need for TV technology, during a press conference in Johannesburg.

His boss, Fifa president Sepp Blatter, did not attend despite demands for top-level answers.

Every question from the assembled international journalists was about yesterday’s refereeing howlers. Each time refusing to comment, Mr. Maingot said he was not qualified to speak about refereeing matters.

Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa ruled out Frank Lampard’s first-half strike, seen by more than 17.5million British viewers. The blunder was compounded later when Argentina’s opening goal against Mexico was allowed to stand even though its scorer, Carlos Tevez, was clearly offside.

Asked what message World Cup bosses had for England fans, Mr. Maingot sat silently before refusing to comment. He finally said: ‘To the fans, not just England fans but all fans around the world, we hope that they can continue to enjoy the World Cup.’

Chelsea's Frank Lampard Won't Quit England After Shambolic Exit From World Cup 2010

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard insists that he has given retirement from international football no serious consideration following England's exit from the World Cup.

The English suffered their worst ever defeat in a World Cup finals when they lost 4-1 to Germany in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Lampard will carry on making himself available for his country even though he will turn 36 during the next tournament, scheduled to be held in Brazil in 2014.

"I want to carry on with England. I think there will be a lot of talking, not just about me," he told reporters.

"It's important players go away and don't listen to it and concentrate on our jobs now.

"The talk is great for the people who are involved in that sort of thing but it doesn't actually make any difference.

"We'll try and carry on, that's what we have to do.

"Only one team wins the World Cup and the rest go home at some stage and don't win it so the talking is by the by.

"We'll have to come back and try and perform."

Many think that the time has come for major surgery to be performed on the England team, with the so-called 'Golden Generation' beginning to reach the twilight of their careers now.

Lampard was not prepared to comment one way or the other though as to what he felt was right at this stage.

"You know what, I don't really want to talk about it at the moment," he added.

"We will worry about that when we start again.

"There is bitter disappointment. It's right up there with other disappointments.

"You are at a World Cup and we felt we could have got a bit of momentum after the Slovenia game."

England Out

Four more Chelsea players are heading home from the World Cup after England were humiliated by Germany, beaten 4-1 in Bloemfontein.

In what was expected to be a tight last 16 encounter, individual and collective mistakes cost England dear, and although they looked like getting back into the game after falling 2-0 behind, susceptibility to fast German counter-attacking meant more danger at the back.

A major talking point arrived with the score at 2-1, when Frank Lampard's half-volley smashed against the crossbar and bounced over the goal-line, though the officials did not award the goal, the opposite to what occurred so famously in 1966. Things could have been very different afterwards, but it is the Germans who will take confidence as they progress into the quarter-finals. For England, it will be a summer of soul-searching.

For the first time in his tenure England coach Fabio Capello named an unchanged line-up, which meant starts for John Terry, Ashley Cole and Lampard, but again Joe Cole would begin on the bench.

It was the left-back's 14th England appearance at a World Cup - only Peter Shilton has more, and there were none more dependable than the Chelsea man in the three group games of this World Cup, so it was a major surprise that the Germans' first chance of the game came down his side.

Mesut Ozil found space in the channel and bore down on the England goal, but he shot straight at David James who saved with his feet.

Ten minutes in Terry had to quash a German counter-attack by making a string block, and then Cole copied his club captain with a ferocious ball-winning challenge on Thomas Muller.

England were enjoying possession without making chances, their first shot being a Lampard free-kick that was sent straight into Germany's defensive wall after the midfielder had been cut down.

Almost immediately Germany went to the other end and took the lead.

A Manuel Neuer goal-kick evaded both Terry and Matthew Upson in central defence, but not Bayern Munich forward Miroslav Klose who ran on and slotted past James with the outside of his right boot.

On the half-hour the same player should have scored a second but James prevented him with some alert goalkeeping, though there was nothing the 39-year-old could do a minute later when the Germans worked the ball across to Lukas Podolski in space inside the area, and the Cologne forward smashed it beneath the 'keeper and into the far corner.

England's World Cup sat on a knife edge, something major would need to change.

Lampard almost pulled a goal back from Milner's cross, and then Upson, up for a corner, did, as he leapt high and headed home Steven Gerrard's cross.

Within two minutes Lampard sent home a brilliant dipping half-volley that bounced two feet over the line, the type of goal we've seen time and again at Stamford Bridge.

But when there are big decisions involving Chelsea players on the international stage, they tend to go against us, and the Uruguayan linesman failed to acknowledge the ball had crossed the line, and failed to award the goal.

It was another major setback at a time when England were in the ascendancy, but after a chaotic first half, they would probably have taken being 2-1 down at half-time, if it was offered.

Six minutes into the second period Lampard lined up a second free-kick of the afternoon, some 35 yards out. Again, at Stamford Bridge we've seen them go in, and this was so, so close.

The 32-year-old rifled it hard at goal, but again the ball slammed against the crossbar, this time rebounding up into the air rather than down, and again the Germans survived.

On 64 minutes the Chelsea count on the field rose to four, with Joe Cole on for James Milner, operating down the right flank.

It was unfortunate for the winger that almost immediately after his introduction, Germany snatched a third. Lampard's free-kick hit the wall, Gareth Barry lost possession high up the field and the German attack broke quicker than the England defence could chase them, the ball eventually ending up with Muller who fired past James.

Three minutes later the dream was well and truly over, as another break saw Ozil sweep the ball across the box for Muller to smash home. 4-1, 20 minutes left, game over.

Gerrard and Wayne Rooney almost combined to pull one back 10 minutes from time but Neuer pulled off a superb save from the Liverpool man.

Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips replaced former Blues right-back Glen Johnson with four minutes remaining, with time only for Lampard to fire in another speculative effort from distance which Neuer held comfortably.

My Favourite Games: Deco

Deco is expected to return to the Portuguese line-up for their World Cup round of 16 game against Spain - but here we focus on the past rather than the future as the 32-year-old shares with us his two favourite games - one in which he played, and one he watched.

Favourite game played:

As one of just a few men to have reached the pinnacle of the club game, it is little surprise Deco picks a Champions League Final as his career highpoint.

Twice a winner of Europe's most prestigious club competition, the playmaker has triumphed at both Porto and Barcelona, while playing in more than 100 Uefa matches.

In 2006, he was part of the Barça side that came from behind to beat Arsenal in Paris, Juliano Belletti scoring a late winner, but it is his earlier success with Porto that brings the broadest grin.

Managed by Jose Mourinho, and with Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa as team-mates (as well as former Chelsea loanee Maniche), Porto's was a close-knit side that had won the Uefa Cup after beating Celtic a year earlier.

n the Final in 2004, they could, and possibly should have met Chelsea, but instead it was our semi-final conquerors, Monaco, that they faced in Gelsenkirchen.

At first, Porto were up against it as their opponents started well, but when Carlos Alberto converted a Ferreira cross five minutes before half-time, the balance of the game changed.

Deco began to stand out, and netted his side's second goal with20 minutes to go, stroking home Dmitri Alenichev's pass to double the lead after a swift counter-attack.

Alenichev scored a third four minutes later and it was game over, the outsiders triumphant after coming past Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna en route to Germany.

'It was my first Champions League Final and it was different to win for Porto because everyone knows how difficult it is,' Deco says. 'All the teams want to win and Porto has less money than the other teams, but we had a great team, I scored in the Final and was Man of the Match.

'We had the same team that had won the Uefa Cup and we had a good spirit. Porto will find it difficult to have another team like that.'

Days later Mourinho departed for Stamford Bridge, bringing Carvalho and Ferreira with him, while Deco went on to spend four years in Spain before arriving in west London.

Favourite game watched:

Deco's cherished memory as a spectator brings back a family experience many youngsters will relate to, watching a game with your dad.

He would only have been knee high to a grasshopper at the time, but he still recalls the 1982 World Cup, when his native Brazil met eventual champions Italy in Barcelona. What followed would be one of the greatest games ever.

Brazil boasted one of its best ever sides too, with talent that could match the great 1970 team, names like Falcao, Socrates and Zico still so well remembered today. For Italy, there was Dino Zoff in goal, defender Claudio Gentile, Marco Tardelli (who would become so famous in the Final), and Paolo Rossi.

t was Rossi, who had been banned, that netted a hat-trick on the day to deny Brazil a semi-final spot despite great strikes from Socrates and Falcao.

'The favourite game I ever watched, I think it would maybe when Brazil lost against Italy in 1982, I don't remember much but I remember my father watching the game,' Deco recalls.

'Nobody thought Italy could win against Brazil, it was such a great team.

'It is my first football memory, I can't remember many things from then, but this game I can remember.'

Aguero Deal Dismissed

Although the name of Chelsea Football Club has been linked heavily with a move for the Argentine striker, Sergio Aguero, the latest implication is that it has all been paper talk.

Aguero, currently on international duty at South Africa 2010, has been the subject of a quote issued by the Atletico Madrid president, Enrique Cerezo.

Cerezo, discussing the possibility of a transfer is quoted as having remarked,

"We have not received any offers and we do not need them."

I think they (Aguero and Forlan) want to continue at Madrid."

Rio Ferdinand Points To Frank Lampard's 'Goal' As Critical Moment

Injured England captain Rio Ferdinand has pinpointed Frank Lampard's disallowed goal as the key moment in Sunday’s 4-1 World Cup thrashing against Germany.

Ferdinand, ruled out of the competition with a knee injury, watched the old enemy run rampant in the last-16 clash in Bloemfontein.

Joachim Low's side were 2-1 up when Lampard's shot hit the crossbar and landed a good yard over the line, only for the goal not to be given by the Uruguayan officials.

In the second half a dominant Germany showing rendered that decision academic but Ferdinand believes it may have been a different story had the sides gone in 2-2 at the break.

Speaking to The Sun, the Manchester United defender said: ''If Lamps' goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would've turned on its head. We'd have been at full throttle. I'm sure we'd have gone on to win it.

''I was sitting here with my mates and we were all screaming at the TV along with everyone else in the pubs going bananas. I'm a professional footballer but I'm also a fan so I know what it's like.

''Your emotions get a grip of you and you think 'How's he not seen it?'

''It wasn't like a counter-attack or something, he was up there with the run of play. He has to be able to see that.''

Ferdinand went on to say he sympathised with the fans' anger at the timid exit from the competition.

The relationship between the squad and their followers hit the headlines earlier in the competition when misfiring striker Wayne Rooney was captured criticising the booing supporters following the 0-0 draw with Algeria.

Ferdinand was more conciliatory than that.

''I understand fans' anger,'' he said. ''People pay good money to go and watch football. If people are angry you can't knock that. They pay their hard-earned money to watch us all over the world so that's part and parcel of it.

''When you look at the names on our teamsheet, you'd have to say that not getting to the latter stages of the tournament that you've underachieved.

''To look at it as an underachievement, given the players we've got to choose from, is a fair point.''

Ferdinand defended the man who made him England captain, albeit only after John Terry's personal indiscretions, and backed Fabio Capello to bounce back from the current calls for his head.

''I believe he's the man to take us to being a successful team. His track record is nothing to be sniffed at,'' he said.

''We've got the utmost respect for this manager. I've enjoyed every moment being around this manager. From the way he coaches to his professionalism, his experience – you can only learn from people like that.''

Joe Cole Blames 'Politics' For Chelsea Exit As Arsenal And Spurs Hover

Joe Cole has blamed "political reasons" for his release from Chelsea and will return to England from South Africa to consider his immediate future, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal understood to be interested in signing him under the Bosman ruling.

The 29-year-old, a late substitute in England's demoralising 4-1 defeat by Germany in Bloemfontein today, will depart Stamford Bridge after seven seasons in south‑west London having failed to agree terms on an extension to his stay with the Double winners. He joins Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti in leaving the club, with the Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun earmarked to replace him in a deal worth around £5m.

"My season for Chelsea wasn't great for what I believe were political reasons rather than footballing reasons," he said. "I love [the Chelsea manager] Carlo Ancelotti and have big respect for him. My leaving is not financial and it is nothing to do with Carlo. I love him and think he is a top guy and a top manager. I've loved my time at Chelsea and I love the fans but it is a story for another day and I will tell it. But now is not the time.

"Now I want to have a couple of weeks off, to sort my future out as soon as possible, to go on holiday with my family. Next season I want to have a fantastic season for England and for whatever club I am at. Wherever I go, it'll be a footballing decision. I want to play in a more central position and I want a manager who has faith in me. And I'm talking about club football here.

"It's a big decision for me and my family but I'm open to anything at the moment. I have purposely not spoken to anyone while I've been here because that wouldn't be fair on England. My phone has been turned off but now I want to sort it all out."

Cork Left In Limbo

Jack Cork’s future remains in limbo as he waits to hear whether he will be allowed to leave Chelsea this summer, with the midfielder still open to a return to Burnley.

Cork impressed while on loan at Turf Moor in the second half of the 2009/10 campaign and said at the end of the season that he would be prepared to rejoin the Clarets - even though they have now been relegated from the Premier League to the Championship.
The midfielder, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, is ready to cut his ties with Chelsea in order to seek a permanent move elsewhere and had been hoping to discuss his future with Blues in the days following end of the season.

Cork still has two years to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge but it is understood that he has still not heard anything from Chelsea or their sporting director Frank Arnesen about whether he will be allowed to leave this summer - either permanently or on loan.

The former Southampton, Watford and Coventry loanee, who has also been linked with a move to newly promoted Blackpool, is keen to know where he will be playing during the 2010/11 season.

But any firm decision could be complicated further if Chelsea decide to keep Cork at the club for their pre-season games, with 10 of their first-team squad set to return to training late following World Cup duty.

And it remains to be seen whether that could scupper his hopes of a return to Burnley, with Clarets boss Brian Laws keen to have all new signings on board by the time his squad fly to Singapore for their pre-season tour on July 17.

Cork came through Chelsea’s youth system but, after several loan spells away from the club to gain experience, he is said to be resigned to the fact that he will be unable to break into the Blues’ first team - such is the fierce competition for places at Stamford Bridge.

Asked about his future at the end of the season, he said: “I want to see what the feedback is (at Chelsea).

“Maybe if Burnley comes in for me in the summer I’ll have to really, really think about it.

“I know next year we’ll have a really strong team, especially if we keep a lot of the players. The financial situation is good and it’s a really good club.

“I can really see Burnley bouncing back.”

Wolves Waiting On Mancienne Deal

Wolves have confirmed they are still hoping to seal a permanent deal for Michael Mancienne, with Chelsea yet to decide where his future lies.

The Blues youngster has spent most of the last two seasons on loan at Molineux, playing in both defence and midfield.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is a confirmed admirer of the 22-year-old and owner Steve Morgan is ready to finance a move.

"If Chelsea say he's available then we would have an interest. Until they clarify what their plans for Michael are, it's very difficult to comment," he said.

"We think the world of Michael at this club - he's a good player, he knows the set-up and he's a popular lad with the squad.

"I think Michael's future depends on what home-grown players Chelsea bring in because they have a balance to strike.

"It's not like going to Tesco and taking tins off the supermarket shelf - as we all know, getting the right players is very difficult.

"The biggest issue is where Chelsea sees Michael's future."

Milan Join Race For Former Chelsea Midfielder Joe Cole

Milan is ready to arrange a move for former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

The England international is a free agent after being released by Chelsea - adding appeal for a Milan side that are eager to retrench in the summer transfer market.

However, he has also attracted a raft of interest from Premier League clubs including Tottenham, whose manager Harry Redknapp has said he is keen on the 29-year-old.

The Rossoneri also face competition from Inter, Lazio and Juventus, who are all said to be interested.

Meanwhile, the deal for Luis Fabiano could gather pace after the striker said he wanted to joint "either Milan or Manchester United" on Sunday.

His deal with Sevilla expires in 2011, and while talks over a renewal had started, problems arose over a wage deal. The hitman wants more than the €2million maximum per annum his club was offering.

That has left the door open for Milan, who is willing to offer him up to €3m a season plus bonuses.

Lampard: I Knew It Was Over The Line

Frank Lampard has called for the goalline technology after being denied a crucial equaliser during England's World Cup defeat to Germany.

England were trailing 2-1 when Lampard's 20-yard strike hit the underside of the bar and bounced down around a yard over the goalline.

But the match officials allowed play to continue and Germany eventually went on to win 4-1 - a scoreline Lampard believes flattered them.

The Chelsea midfielder said: "I haven't seen the goal again but I didn't need to see it again.

"I knew straight away that my shot was over the line, clearly a yard or so.

"It baffles me that it wasn't given and it was a big deciding factor.

"I won't stand here and say it is the reason why we got knocked out.

"But if it had gone to 2-2, and we had still come out and played the way we did in the second half, it would have been a different game."

Lampard said: "I think it is time to bring in goal-line technology.

"We had a meeting before the World Cup when we were told about a million different rule changes that hardly affect the game.

"The big one, the one that affects the game today, hasn't been brought in so it is a no-brainer."

Lampard believes there were only small margins that separated the two sides.

He said: "Everyone can see, it was small things in the game.

"Everyone can see it was a goal which would have sent us in level at half-time and after the break we were on top and hit the bar again.

"Maybe we showed a bit of desperation and a little bit of naivety on our part in trying to push and push and getting caught on sucker punches on counter-attacks.

"It is the story of the game. Nobody can stand here and tell me Germany were a lot better than us. They were not 4-1 better than us.

"But the things have conspired against us and maybe we have conspired against ourselves at times. But it just didn't go for us."

Hutchinson's Early Start

With the playing staff either away at the World Cup or taking much-deserved holidays, Cobham has been a quiet place over the last month or so, but with pre-season now only just around the corner, activity is beginning to pick up.

Present this week is Sam Hutchinson, who has interrupted his end-of-season break to get a head start before the rest of the squad arrive on July 5.

The 20-year-old defender has now recovered from the chronic knee injury that hampered his progress over the past three seasons, but his condition leaves him unable to train every day, much like England defender Ledley King, and so the decision was taken to come in early and get some fitness under his belt.

'I am in for five days over the next week or so, just to help with some fitness because I can't train every day,' said the Berkshire-born player. 'Jason Palmer [physio and manager of therapy services] wanted me to come in and get a bit stronger so I don't have to push myself so much when everyone else is back.

'I'm not sure yet what pre-season will be like for me, I can't train every day, so they will pick sessions week by week to get me fit for the pre-season games, and then for the start of the season.

'The last two pre-seasons I have been fit, where I was 17 in 2007, and last year, I have played in all the games so hopefully I can do the same and have a good pre-season and set myself up nicely for the start of the season, play a few more games and stay fit.'

Those who remember seeing 'Hutch' in action last summer in the USA will recall an assured presence at the back, and he showed with subsequent competitive appearances he has an abundance of ability, either at centre-back or right-back, from where he crossed for Frank Lampard's excellent volley against Stoke in April.

'I think I may be seen more as a right-back, but I am happy wherever the manager plays me. I came on against Stoke at right-back, and got injured in that game, injuring my back,' he said.

'I was meant to be involved in the last games, but I don't know, wherever the boss sees me, I am happy. I am capable of playing anywhere, if I am fit. When I have played, I have done okay and I think I can do a job. I'm confident in myself and now in my knee as well.

'It's great to see Ledley King in the England squad, and not wishing any injuries on him or anything, but it's a relief to see he is not invincible because he has picked up another injury with his groin.

'When I got injured against Stoke it was my back, and I thought, "Here we go, another setback,", but it is hard because you can't train every day.

'It's hard to get match fitness in training, and that intensity in the Premier League is on a different level, but you just have to get used to it, and hopefully by coming in early and managing it properly I'm giving myself the best chance.'

Chelsea Prepare Bid For Real Madrid Playmaker Van der Vaart

Chelsea are preparing a bid for Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

The Dutch playmaker will not be blocked by Real should he decide to leave Madrid after the World Cup.

Chelsea are keen and are prepared to offer £10 million for the midfielder.

Van der Vaart would arrive at Chelsea to take charge of their midfield creativity, with Michael Ballack, Deco and Joe Cole all leaving Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti Joins Chase For Ajax Man Luis Suarez

Chelsea are rumoured to be considering a bid for Uruguayan hot shot Luis Suarez. Carlo Ancelotti is known to be a fan of the Ajax goal machine and having seen the 23 year old put in a marvellous performance against South Korea in the second round of the World Cup he appears to be ready to make a move for the talented striker.

The Stamford Bridge boss is looking for new youthful long term alternatives to current ageing front pair Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and believes that lethal finisher could be a good addition to his Premier League winning side.

Ajax will have a struggle to keep hold of their top scorer and the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus are all apparently keen on Suarez but with Roman Abramovich reportedly ready to spend big this summer the Blues could well lead the race for the top notch striker.

Valued at around £22m the Eredivisie man netted an amazing 49 goals in 48 games last term and that included 12 goals in European competition thus proving his ability to do well at the highest level and not just the relatively average Dutch league.

Last year Chelsea reportedly came close to securing Luis Suarez Ajax midfielder Luis Suarez is widely reported in the Dutch media to have reached an agreement to sign for Chelsea.

The 22 year old’s agent Daniel Fonseca has reportedly tied things up with the Stamford Bridge club and is simply waiting for the two clubs to agree on the deal.

Kalou Cheering The Blues

Salomon Kalou admits he will be cheering his Chelsea team-mates on when England take on Germany.

Kalou and Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba are already out of the World cup with Ivory Coast, while fellow Blues forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home by France and Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic have also exited.

Portugal's Deco and Paulo Ferreira remain in the tournament, as do John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole, and Kalou hopes the England quartet will do the business to help lift the spirits when the players return to pre-season training at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I don't think it has been too good a World Cup for Chelsea's players.

"Hopefully the English boys will do better so when we do get back we will have some positive things to talk about from the World Cup.

"I hope England beat Germany. I will watch the game and cheer for JT, Lampsy and Joe Cole.

"I hope they have a great game to put England into the next round."

Ivory Coast exited the tournament after an opening goalless stalemate with Portugal, a 3-1 defeat to Brazil and then a closing 3-0 win over North Korea, in which Kalou scored.

Reflecting on the campaign, Kalou added: "It is difficult to say I am disappointed because we did a good job against Portugal, we had some bad luck against Brazil and the third game we won.

"We will keep the positives and work very hard to get to that level.

"It has been a very good experience for us playing against Portugal and Brazil.

"Hopefully in the next World Cup we will get an easier group and we can make it to the next round."

Kalou believed the Ivorians had shown too much respect in the game against Brazil.

He said: "If there are any regrets it was Brazil. I don't believe we played at our level.

"Maybe we were a little intimidated to play against Brazil - you have to play at your best.

"Portugal - perhaps we should have tried to win the game. We started well and pushed it and created chances but didn't put the ball in the net.

"When you have chances like that you have to take them."

Chelsea Chase £17m-Rated AC Milan Striker Marco Borriello

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to make a £17 million move for AC Milan striker Marco Borriello, according to Mediaset.

The Italian hit man blossomed at the San Siro last season and notched 14 goals in Serie A. Despite missing the cut for Marcello Lippi's World Cup 2010 squad, he remains a highly-rated player.

His emergence has alerted the Blues boss to his talent after he failed to make the mark when they were together at the San Siro.

A big money bid from the west London outfit would be hard to turn down by the cash-strapped club, especially as they look to fund a move for Brazil hot-shot Luis Fabiano.

Chelsea Midfielder Deco Hints At Brazil Return With Fluminense

Chelsea midfielder Deco has reiterated his desire to move back to his native country of Brazil in the summer.

The Portugal international, on the books of Chelsea since 2008, has made no secret of his wish to return to Brazil after 13 years in Europe.

Deco, who returned to full training today following a hip injury, has now repeated his desire to depart the Blues after the World Cup.

"My wish to go back to Brazil is due to personal issues, stronger than football issues," Deco told Maisfutebol.

"If that happens, Fluminense are the club closest to signing me."

Portugal have reached the Round of 16 after Friday's goalless draw with Brazil, and Deco has now shaken off pressure from the Seleccao.

"We can't consider Portugal as favourites because we don't have tradition in World Cups, but I always said that we had chances," he said.

"Now, we are in the Round of 16. The hope rises and the dream is closer."

Tottenham Set To Seal £17.1m Deal To Sign Joe Cole

If Arsenal pull out of the race due to excessive wage demands and with Man United already stating they are not interested in the England international, the path is pretty much clear for Harry Redknapp to reunite with the former West Ham man.

The three year deal Joe Cole wants will cost the White Hart Lane club £17.1m and whilst that may sound steep its worth noting that the attacking midfielder would cost around £20m in transfer fees alone and in many ways the 28 year old could be the final part of the Tottenham jigsaw puzzle.

The offer to join Spurs is of course made sweeter now the club has Champions League football to offer and though Redknapp already has a fantastic squad the addition of a vastly experienced and incredibly talented player like Cole can only be an added bonus and in many ways a player too good to turn down.

African Stars Didier Drogba And Samuel Eto'o Were Under Too Much Pressure - Patrick Viera

Patrick Viera insists there was too much pressure placed on African stars such as Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o at the World Cup.

The former French captain believes that the stars lacked the support from their team-mates, which has resulted in five out of six African teams being eliminated at the group stage.

Vieira said: "It is quite difficult to understand, some of the big names play in Europe and when they come back to their national teams they struggle a lot.

"Players like Drogba and Eto'o, when they play for their clubs there are other stars who share the pressure but when they come into the national team the people expect them to win games by themselves.

"They will make a difference but they cannot win a game by themselves. It is important for other players not to expect one player to make the difference - some players lay back and expect the big players to make a difference on their own. Other players must take responsibility as well."

The new rule which allows African players to represent the countries of their parents or grandparents even if they have played at national youth level in another country will continue to be beneficial according to Viera, who was born in Senegal.

"I never had a choice to make, I was in the French youth team and never had contact with the Senegal national team, but I don't have any regrets.

“But now there is a new rule so that if you got in the youth team (for one country) you can go and play in the senior team (of another).

"You can see the Algeria team, some of them played in the French youth team but played for the Algerian (senior) team. This is a good change for African countries, which will make them stronger."

My Favourite Games: Didier Drogba

The Champions League is never quiet with Didier Drogba around, and it was from that competition he picked out his two major footballing memories.

Favourite game played:

After travelling to Anfield and giving Liverpool a 3-1 thumping, Chelsea hosted the Reds in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a comfortable lead already established.

With that in mind, many expected Liverpool to attack when they arrived at Stamford Bridge, which they did, but it would be fair to say no one predicted the eight-goal thriller that ensued.

By half-time Liverpool were 2-0 up, after Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso both found the net inside the first 30 minutes, but by the 75-minute mark Chelsea had made it 3-2 in our favour.

Drogba struck first, then Alex, then Frank Lampard as the crowd inside Stamford Bridge erupted.

But Liverpool were far from done and five minutes after Chelsea's third, Lucas made it 3-3 and only a minute later Dirk Kuyt netted the visitor's fourth.

By now you could have cut through the tension inside the stadium with a knife, as Blues everywhere wished for one last Chelsea goal to see us safely through.

And even though it was irrelevant to the cause, as a 4-3 loss would have seen Chelsea progress to the next round anyway, with only one minute of normal time left to play, Lampard made it four.

'It was an amazing night at Stamford Bridge and nobody expected it to be like that,' explains Drogba. 'We started badly but we came back once and then did it again, and the atmosphere in the stadium was special, I will always remember it.'

Favourite game watched:

Many who played in it would pick it as their favourite, yet suspension meant Drogba had to watch from the sidelines.

When we hosted Barcelona in the Champions League first knockout round in 2005, an outstanding game of football unfolded. It was a game that placed Chelsea back among Europe's greats and provided a couple of the decade's greatest goals.

After building a 3-0 lead in the first half, following strikes from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff, Ronaldhino pulled one back for the visitors with a penalty after Paulo Ferreira handled in the area.

But it was the Brazilian's second that most will remember, when he made a simple flick look astoundingly complex, as his shot from the edge of the box flew past Ricardo Carvalho and into the top left.

Fortunately it was the last goal the Spanish giants could muster and when John Terry headed home Duff's out-swinging corner, our place in the next round was sealed.

'My favourite game to watch was when we beat Barcelona 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in 2005,' explains the Ivorian.

'I was suspended for the game so watched from the side and it was a brilliant night for Chelsea, it was fantastic.'

Ballack Defends Move

Michael Ballack refuses to see his move from Chelsea to Bayer Leverkusen as a step down in his career and has set his sights on winning more silverware with the Bundesliga club. The Germany captain yesterday completed his return to Leverkusen, signing a two-year contract with the side where he first rose to prominence between 1999 and 2002.

Although Ballack's last spell with them ended in triple disappointment with defeat in the UEFA Champions League final, a runners-up spot in the Bundesliga and an agonising DFB-Pokal final loss, he has returned to put things right by winning trophies.

"We want to win the league in the near future," he proclaimed. "My ambitions are still very high. I have always been playing to win trophies over the last decade and we can do that with Bayer too. Of course Bayern are the top favourites, but there is such great potential here in Leverkusen and we should also go a long way in Europe."

Ballack has spent the last four years in England with the Blues, but he admitted he was not tempted to remain abroad when he learnt his contract was not going to be extended. "As soon as I knew I was leaving Chelsea, our first thought was to return to Germany," he revealed. "That is our home and we are happy there. We should settle there for the future."

Ballack, who was forced out of the FIFA World Cup with an ankle injury sustained in Chelsea's FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth has signed a two-year contract with Leverkusen but claims he could play on longer, as long as he remains fit.

"Of course I still want to play for the national team and I have my eyes on Euro 2012," he said. "I will be 35 then and we will have to see nearer the time what happens (with a new contract). My health also plays a very big role."

Ballack will be given his favourite number 13 shirt with Leverkusen, but he may not necessarily be handed the captain's armband. And he claims he is not concerned about who leads the team onto the field for their first Bundesliga match of the season on August 21.

"That is up to the coach," he said. "I don't have to be the captain to assume responsibility. Simon Rolfes is a great captain and has filled the position well and I think that it will remain that way."

Keepers Share Shoot-out Secrets

Petr Cech and Oliver Kahn have revealed the tricks used by goalkeepers when it comes to penalties.

Draws are no longer an option in the World Cup with the group phase now over, so a number of games are likely to be settled by spot-kicks over the next couple of weeks.

Penalty shoot-outs are nervy occasions for players and supporters alike, although many goalkeepers claim to relish the chance to become heroes.

With the odds stacked heavily in favour of those trying to score, former Germany and Bayern Munich keeper Kahn admits he had to become attuned to the subtlest of signs from his opponent.

"You can read a lot from the body language of the shooter and where he will be shooting," said Khan.

"It is a psychological game between the goalkeeper and the taker. It has a lot to do with eye contact and body language.

"You can irritate the shooter with your body language, you can see whether a player is fearful and you can see from the eyes of a taker if he makes a small mistake into which corner that ball will go."

Cech, who plays for Chelsea and Czech Republic, concedes that goalkeepers also have psychological battles with themselves ahead of a penalty.

"You do your homework, you know where the player can shoot, what is his habit, if he waits for the goalkeeper or if he chooses the corner," Cech said.

"But you need to be strong, stay calm, try to keep your homework working, then you have a chance of saving the ball."

Although Khan did his homework when Bayern beat Valencia on penalties in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final, he did not use what he had learned.

"I still remember very clearly. I was working with my coach to figure out what all the players' tactics were," Kahn recalled.

"But (on the field) I forgot all of that. I (went) straight into a phase of absolute concentration."

Kahn accepts that concentration and mind games alone will not help a goalkeeper make a crucial penalty save.

He added: "You always need a certain amount of luck."

Cole: We Want To Win Something

Joe Cole has revealed his displeasure at England's 'Golden Generation' tag but believes they may finally live up to it by winning the FIFA 2010 World Cup™. The former Chelsea midfielder feels the title is undeserved given England have failed to win a major tournament with that group of players.

But Cole believes this is "our time" regarding England as they gear up for tomorrow's last-16 meeting with old rivals Germany in Bloemfontein. He revealed: "We don't like to be called the Golden Generation. That was put upon us. We don't like it because we've not won anything. I remember the Portugal team who were called the same and they never won anything either. We want to win something. Then people can rightly call us that."

But Cole conceded: "I think we can do it this time. I've never felt it like this before in other tournaments. You always think you can do it but this time I think it's our time and we can do it if the country believes. I thought it was an excellent performance against Slovenia and we can't wait to get to grips with Germany.

"The history between the two countries is immense and the 1990 World Cup was the first tournament I watched. I can remember when Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) got booked and we lost on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals."

Cole has never taken a penalty in professional football during a career with West Ham United, Chelsea and England spanning more than a decade, but he is willing to put any trepidation to one side and take one against Germany if required should spot-kicks again be needed to decide the outcome.

"I've never taken a professional penalty because when I was at West Ham Paolo Di Canio took them," he said. "Frank Lampard takes them at Chelsea and David Beckham always did for England - but that's not to say I wouldn't take one. It takes more of a man to step up and take one rather than shy away. I'm hoping there'll be no surprise and they'll fall to the (Steven) Gerrards, (Frank) Lampards and (Wayne) Rooneys but if the manager asks me, I'll be there."

Didier Drogba Disappointed With Exit

Ivory Coast were knocked out of the World Cup on Friday afternoon despite defeating North Korea 3-0 in their final Group G match. The three points bagged against the Asian minnows were not enough for the Elephants as Portugal drew 0-0 with Brazil to finish second in the group and qualify for the last 16.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was understandably disappointed after the match but maintained an optimistic outlook towards the future.

"If we were in a better group maybe we would go through. I think we were unlucky both times in the World Cup," the 32-year-old has been quoted by AP as saying.

"We are disappointed, but at the same time we can't be too disappointed when you are in a group like this with Portugal and Brazil. We are a good team and we have good players but I think those two teams are better than us.

"For a country like Ivory Coast to be in a World Cup twice in a row is something fantastic.

"Knowing that in the past we have never been there before, to play against Brazil and Portugal, two of the best nations of the football world, it's like a dream for our country."

Ricardo Carvalho Delighted To Be In Last 16

In what was a dull encounter, Portugal qualified for the second round of the World Cup by drawing 0-0 with Brazil in their final game in Group G.

Goal.com's Ewan Macdonald was present at the game in Durban and after the match he spoke to Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho along with the other reporters. The Chelsea centre-back expressed his delight at having qualified for the knockout stages and hinted that he wouldn't lose sleep on who they will face next.

"Yes, of course [I am delighted with second round qualification]. A draw would have been enough for us, we knew that. Brazil are very strong but they had one or two results, like us, so I think a draw is a fair result.

"I can't control that [who we face in the second round], so we need to wait for tonight to decide what we can't control. Of course it would be better to be first, but you never know. We just have to wait."

Speaking on the England-Germany clash in the last 16, Carvalho stated that England have a real chance to beat their old adversaries and progress in the tournament.

"Of course, they can beat the Germans, but you never know in football," the Chelsea defender said before adding that he has not spoken to his club-mate John Terry and that he doesn't "even have his number".

Michael Ballack Is Germany's Secret Weapon

Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack has been rumbled as a double-agent.

Ballack, 33, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen after being shown the Stamford Bridge door, has been helping the Germans compile dossiers on England.

German boss Joachim Low revealed Ballack could be his secret weapon for Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash.

Ballack has been giving the in-side track on former team-mates, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Low said: “I have talked to Michael many times about the Premier League and we had a good chat two or three months ago about individual players such as Lampard.

“He knows a lot about these players and we have comprehensive information at our disposal.”

Low stayed in the training camp studying videos while his young side visited a lion park yesterday morning.

“I’m happy to report that none of my players got eaten! There is no fear in anyone’s eyes,” he said.

“There is a tension, yes, but it is healthy stage fright. We won’t go into the game hiding our heads in the sand.

“We are young, but are we nice? I don’t think that comes into it. You should see them in training.”

Skipper Philipp Lahm laughed off suggestions Fabio Capello’s Three Lions were lying in wait.

He said: “Yes, we saw lions but it was more of a petting zoo so we had some young cubs in our arms.

“On Sunday the treatment we give to the lions we face will be more aggressive than this morning.”

Low says his men must listen to all the info passed on to them or risk being ripped apart.

“Give Wayne Rooney and Lampard lots of space and they can be unstoppable. England have a fantastic fighting spirit and burning ambition.

“The axis of their team – Terry, Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney is just amazing.

“But there is no fear, maybe a few nerves. There are many chapters in the book of Anglo- German encounters and this is the latest.

“They are usually full of sparks. The English have a never-say-die attitude. They are known for their fight and commitment.”

Low said he had ignored rumours of unrest in the opposition camp.

“England are strong mentally and have great experience,” he said.

“It is not the end of the world if they sit together and ask what they can change.”

Defoe Hails Ashley Cole

Jermain Defoe has hailed Ashley Cole as "the best left-back in the world" ahead of England's World Cup clash with Germany in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Chelsea defender Cole has attracted unwanted headlines off the pitch regarding events in his private life and seldom gives interviews these days.

But Tottenham striker Defoe has no doubts about the footballing qualities of the 29-year-old, who made his England debut nearly a decade ago in a World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Cole returned from injury towards the end of the domestic season to help Chelsea clinch a Barclays Premier League and FA Cup double.

He then clocked up his 81st England cap in the 1-0 win over Slovenia on Wednesday.

That set up a last-16 meeting with Germany, with Cole one of the survivors from the side which defeated England's old rivals 5-1 in Munich nine years ago.

Defoe, who scored England's winner against the Slovenians, said: "Ashley is brilliant. For me, he is the best left-back in the world. I was saying that to someone, I think it was Shaun (Wright-Phillips).

"It is different when you are playing to looking in from the outside. You can appreciate how good someone is.

"With the movement, sometimes Stevie G (Gerrard) will come inside and Ashley will overlap. We work on that in training.

"When Ashley gets into the final third of the pitch, he is really relaxed and can pass it.

"He is still talking about the three goals he scored last season for Chelsea."

Defoe added: "His energy is unbelievable - what an athlete. He is the best and he has been like that for years.

"To have that consistency at the top level for so long is special."

Blues On Parade Around The World

Supporters clubs on either side of the globe took part in their own Double-winning bus parades at the end of our successful 2009/10 season.

Not to be outdone by the parade in SW6, fans in both New York and Hong Kong organised their own open-top buses to take an array of supporters along their local streets.

Anson Mui was the man behind Hong Kong Island's parade, made all the more special by the fact the region is populated heavily by Manchester United fans, while Mike Neat arranged New York's parade.

'We wanted to be loud and proud,' said Neat, 'and we wanted an audience which meant heading to a couple of tourist-infested areas of Manhattan.

'We received many bemused looks and smiles along with a few shouts from fellow fans and fans of other teams. One fan on the street actually began a "Super Frank" chant for us on the bus. Naturally, quite a few people on the street turned their cameras on us,' added Neat, who also helped raise $1,000 for charity during the event.

Both cities boast a healthy Chelsea following as the Blues have infiltrated the west and east, with over 500 fans involved in the Official Chelsea Supporters' Club Hong Kong.

Held on 30 May, the parade in Hong Kong took three hours to complete as fans sang Chelsea songs and held a quiz to give away merchandise sponsored by the club's Megastore.

'People on the street smiled and waved, although some were confused by what was going on,' explained Mui.

'And although it was raining, it was great fun. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we were proud of being Chelsea fans. It was great for us all to get together and sing some Chelsea songs.'

The Blues have supporters' club branches all over the world but are consistently striving to find more.

Chelsea Link Up With Arizona Club

Chelsea Academy coaches will be heading to America this summer to bring top-level coaching to elite young players in Arizona.

In partnership with the Sereno Soccer Club, we will host an elite soccer camp for boys and girls ages eight to 16.

The camps, to be held July 11-16 at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will provide players with access to similar drills and practices our coaches at Cobham use to train our own Academy talent, offering a unique opportunity to develop technical skills.

Chelsea's head of international youth football development Jeff Bookman said: 'America has terrific young talent and Chelsea are dedicated to supporting youth soccer development in the States by bringing our esteemed staff of coaches and personnel to host camps, clinics and training programs.

'The Arizona soccer camp will highlight the same coaching philosophy we use for all levels of our club.'

The camp is part of Chelsea's ongoing commitment to the development of football in America. Since 2008, we have partnered with top clubs in America to establish the Chelsea US youth club network to share the Chelsea coaching philosophy, host training camps, sponsor tournaments and implement player and coaching exchange programs.

Sereno SC, which is part of the Chelsea US youth club network, is one of the leading soccer education and training organizations in the United States and is perennially ranked the number one youth soccer club in Arizona.

Over the past 30 years, the club has produced 46 Arizona State champion boys teams, 80 Arizona State champion girls teams, nine regional champions, three national finalists and one national champion.

Spurs Boss Harry Redknapp Wants To Sign Joe Cole

Harry Redknapp has admitted for the first time he is trying to sign Joe Cole.

But the Spurs boss faces a battle with North London rivals Arsenal to secure the signature of the Chelsea and England midfielder.

Redknapp said: "We've declared our interest in Joe to his agent but that is as far as it has gone.

"We are told Joe doesn't want to talk to anyone about any move until after the World Cup is over."

Cole, 28, is available on a free transfer after refusing new terms at Stamford Bridge and Redknapp is keen to work with him for a second time.

Cole was given his first-team break at West Ham when Redknapp bossed the Hammers, before moving to Chelsea for £6.5million seven years ago.

The England star was demanding a wage rise of around £30,000 on top of his £80,000-a-week salary to bring him in line with Chelsea's top earners but the Blues refused.

Arsenal have a strict wage policy but can get around it by offering Camden-born Cole a big signing-on fee as he will cost nothing.

Nicolas Anelka Aiming For More Titles After Signing New Deal

After signing a new contract extension at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is now aiming to take more silverware to west London next season.

The French forward, who was a key player for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winners last season, has scored 42 goals in 123 games for the Blues and has proved himself a formidable partner to Didier Drogba in the Chelsea frontline.

"I aim to score goals and win more titles," Anelka told Chelsea's official website.

"This is the most important thing for everybody, and to enjoy my football and give pleasure to the fans because they come to the games, they want to see good football, they want to see goals, they want to see wins, so this is what I will try to do and we will try to do as a team.

"We start in the league at home to West Brom, and it is nice to start at home - there will be a lot of fans there like always, it will not be an easy game against this kind of team who are newly promoted, but we have a big team and we will do our job."

Anelka also praised Carlo Ancelotti, the club's manager, believing that the Italian was a reason for his own good form last season, which saw him score 15 goals and create many more for his team-mates.

"He won a lot of things in Italy, and you know when you speak with someone like him, he understands what you want and you understand what he wants," continued Anelka.

"It is simple to work with him, easy.

"I know he tried to sign with me for Juventus, but I signed in Real Madrid, but now I am very glad to be here with him, he is a good person, a very good manager and I am glad to be here with him."

Chelsea Set To Snatch Real Madrid Youngster Alipio

Chelsea are set to re-ignite their interest in Real Madrid youngster Alipio after he was made a potential makeweight in Angel Di Maria's Benfica move, according to Marca.

The Brazilian youth international has been a long-term target for the Blues and they came close to landing him before he moved to the Spanish capital a year ago.

Despite being only 17, he is already a star performer in the club's Castilla side and had been earmarked for a future role in the first team.

A return to Portugal was on the cards for the ex-Rio Ave forward to ease Di Maria's £22 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti will now reportedly attempt to derail this move with a bid of his own.

Tottenham And Chelsea Battle For Barcelona Dealmaker Begiristain

According to Spanish daily 'Sport', Chelsea and Tottenham are the leading candidates to secure the services of Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.

The 45-year-old is a former Barcelona player and Spanish international. He was brought into the Nou Camp as technical secretary in 2003 in order to end a barren four seasons without a trophy and has since helped bring incredible success for the Catalans. Begiristain has overseen the transfers of influential stars such as Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o during his time at the Nou Camp.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta's reign will end at the end of the month and it is thought that his close ally Begiristain will also use the opportunity to move on. 'Sport' suggests that Tottenham, Chelsea and Rangers are all interested in securing his services, but that Begiristain is most interested in a move to England.

Chelsea would clearly offer Begiristain the greatest financial incentive and could provide him with the largest budget to work with. Although Begiristain has previously been linked with Tottenham, it remains to be seen whether Harry Redknapp would be willing to share responsibility on matters such as player recruitment.

John Terry's A Top Block, Says Joe Cole

Joe Cole has hailed John Terry as the best defender in the world and described him as the “heartbeat” of the England team.

Terry landed himself in hot water with manager Fabio Capello for calling on the players to challenge him on issues such as bringing Cole into the team. Cole was finally used as a late substitute in the victory over Slovenia, in which Terry bounced back from his problems with a superb performance.

“You can’t knock JT,” said Cole. “He is the best centre-half in the world and some of the blocks and the tackles against Slovenia were brilliant. He is the heartbeat of the side and an exceptional player. We’ve got so many good leaders in the team and it was a great performance from him.”

And despite being limited to a bit-part role so far, Cole has vowed to give everything to England’s cause, whether he is playing 90 minutes or nine. “The main thing is the squad game,” said Cole. “If I get one minute, I’ll fight for that one minute.”

Ballack Returns To Leverkusen On Two-year Deal

Michael Ballack has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year contract. The 33-year-old, who is missing the World Cup through an injury picked up in the FA Cup final victory, was released by Chelsea at the end of last season.

The midfielder is returning to the Bundesliga and his old side, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2002

"With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete. I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back on a lot," Ballack told the club's website.

"That was a factor in my decision." Ballack added: "But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive.

"I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer."

Ballack, who spent three years with Bayer before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2002 and then moving on to Chelsea in 2006, will reportedly earn around €12 million over a two-year stay at Bayer.

Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg were also believed to have been interested in him, but Ballack has opted for a return to his old club.

Bayer sporting director is delighted to have signed a player of Ballack's experience, and believes he will help the development of the club's crop of young players.

"With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality," he said. "Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience.

"We did everything to convince Michael. That his preference was for Bayer despite our limited financial possibilities in comparison to the competition shows his emotional attachment to the club."

Salomon Kalou Admits Disappointment At Ivory Coast's Performances

Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou has admitted pressure at World Cup 2010 has been to blame for Ivory Coast's poor tournament.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side look set to crash out of Group G unless they can turn around a nine-goal disadvantage to Portugal in Friday’s fixtures.

The Elephants were hotly-tipped before the tournament, but a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brazil has condemned them to an early flight home and they will need a miracle against North Korea.

Speaking to reporters, Kalou blamed high expectations as the cause for the squad's flop.

"Expectations were huge and we owed it to ourselves to perform well. But the pressure has caused us more stress than anything and even inhibited our talents," Kalou said.

"All of us have put lots of pressure on ourselves because this World Cup is being played on our continent.

"There have been a few players who haven't been up to the standard required. Their abilities have been crushed by the pressure they've put on their own shoulders."

My Favourite Games: Scott Sinclair

He may have spent the season away from Stamford Bridge but that did not stop Scott Sinclair sharing his memories of his two favourite matches, one in which he played, and the other which he watched.

Favourite game played:

This may seem an unlikely choice for many but add to the fixture the fact it's your Premier League debut for Chelsea and all will make sense.

Sinclair's favourite game to ever play in was exactly that, when he first donned the senior team's shirt in the Barclays Premier League against Arsenal in May 2007, when a draw saw the Blues relinquish the title to Manchester United.

It was a depleted Chelsea side that travelled to north London as Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Andrey Shevchenko and Arjen Robben all missed the fixture through injury.

Add to it that Khalid Boulahrouz was shown red during the first half; a dwindling Chelsea side were soon down to 10.

Gilberto Silva scored first, netting for the home side two minutes before the break, before Michael Essien evened the scores with a phenomenal strike in the 70th. It was 10 minutes after that Sinclair's debut would arrive.

Swapping for Shaun Wright-Phillips on the wing, under the watchful gaze of Jose Mourinho, Sinclair did well to set up Frank Lampard in the final minute, only for our number eight to narrowly miss the target.

'My favourite game was making my League debut for Chelsea,' says Sinclair, 'it was such a big thing for me. That will always stay in my mind.'

Favourite game watched:

It is proving to be popular. You have to go back five years for Scott's favourite game he's seen, to when he was a 16-year-old watching Liverpool take on Milan in the Final of the Champions League.

Liverpool had sealed their place in the final thanks to a phantom goal against Chelsea in the semis, and went on to produce a pretty dismal display during the first-half against Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan.

They were playing in Istanbul and conceded the first goal with only 50 seconds of football played, when Paulo Maldini struck.

Then, for Milan's second, Andrey Schevchenko crossed for Herman Crespo to tap in at the near post before the Argentine made it three in the 42nd minute.

No one would have blamed you for thinking the game was beyond reach for Liverpool as they returned to the pitch for the second half, but it wasn't.

Instead Steven Gerrard rallied his side for one of the most incredible comebacks in football's recent history.

Heading home a John Arne Riise cross, the Liverpool captain brought belief back to the ranks only nine minutes after the restart.

A further goal then arrived from Vladimir Smicer before Xabi Alonso was given the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. He missed the initial shot but followed up on the rebound as Dida failed to hold on. It was 3-3 with 30 minutes left.

There would be no more goals in normal or extra-time and Liverpool eventually went on to win the game 3-2 on penalties, as Serginho, Andrea Pirlo and, surprisingly, Shevchenko all missed from the spot.

'How they came back from the 3-0 is amazing,' says Sinclair, 'and in the Champions League Final as well.

'At 3-0 you think the game is done but Gerrard was the difference in that one.'

Chelsea Could Pip Man City To David Silva

Manchester City have been given permission to open talks with Valencia midfielder David Silva, but Chelsea could yet make a move for the player.

Roberto Mancini has been linked with a move for Silva for weeks, and now his Spanish club have agreed to let City talk to the winger. The two clubs have yet to agree a fee but it now seems certain that Silva will be heading to the Premier League.

"As has been said, there is interest from Manchester City and we have permitted them to talk to the player, but we have reached no agreement and we have not talked about a fee," said Valencia's deputy chairman Javier Gomez.

Although City appear to be in pole position to land the midfielder's signature, it is far from certain that he will opt to move to Eastlands. Only on Sunday, Silva spoke of his desire to join Chelsea and the player's agent has again suggested he may prefer a move to Stamford Bridge.

"We're weighing up offers from three clubs and one is Chelsea," his agent, Julio Llorente, told the Daily Mail. "If Silva doesn't want to go to City, the transfer isn't possible."

Silva, currently with Spain at the World Cup finals, is expected to cost in the region of £28 million. While that is small change to owners of both clubs, it could be that Chelsea may prefer to spend big on a striker rather.

Last weekend Silva said of possible interest from Chelsea: "Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years. They might not have the history of Real Madrid or AC Milan but they are creating their own history now.

"There is no reason why in the future Chelsea can't be as decorated as Real Madrid. Chelsea probably have, along with Barcelona, the best squad in football and if any player joins Chelsea he knows he is going to win things.

"In players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, they have players who would get into any team in the world and it would be a pleasure to play with them. There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for - and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.

"The Premier League is still the place to be. No other league in the world has six or seven Champions League-quality teams."

Ballack Ready To Make His Mind Up

Michael Ballack has declared that he will make a decision on his future in the next fortnight.

The midfielder is on the lookout for a new club after Chelsea confirmed earlier this month that he would not be offered a new deal.

Having spent the past four years at Stamford Bridge, reports suggest that Ballack could now return to his native Germany.

Hamburg, Wolfsburg and Ballack's former club Bayer Leverkusen are understood to be leading the chase and will not have to wait long for his decision.

"I am able to confirm that I am going to make up my mind quickly," the 33-year-old told Bild.

"There will be a decision on my future in the next two weeks."

Leverkusen general manager Rudi Voller, meanwhile, has reiterated that he is hopeful of signing Ballack.

"It would be great news to see Michael returning to our club," stated Voller.

"(Manager) Jupp Heynckes would be extremely happy to see Michael coming back to us."

John Terry Throws Himself Back Into England Favour

It was a freeze-frame moment; a study of determination that appealed to the core of Fabio Capello and what he demands. Having hurled his body in the way of one fierce Slovenian shot, John Terry scrambled up and projected himself, almost horizontally, towards another.

His nose was just about brushing the turf, his neck muscles straining as he desperately tried to stop the ball. He was engulfed in one aim. They will not score. Terry narrowly missed but maybe he had done enough to unsettle the dangerous Valter Birsa and Glen Johnson was there to hack clear.

It was the 68th minute of Wednesday’s match, thick with tension, a tension that only increased, and it was as close as Slovenia came to breaching the England goal. It was also an episode which captured the essence of why Terry remains a remarkably committed, valuable defender even if his stock has dwindled dramatically off-the-field through recent months.

A man who should be an adjutant to captain Steven Gerrard — and by extension Capello — had developed into an agitator with his ill-judged, outspoken interventions of last weekend and his prickly mood around the camp before that. They revealed the strain at the heart of this England squad but also an opportunism that showed his own discontent and the isolation that he was in danger of placing himself in unless he acted.

But on Wednesday he was back on the pitch — a domain he is always more comfortable on than the podium. There was, in the immediate aftermath of the revelations over his private life last spring, evidence that he can steel himself through adversity — as he did scoring for Chelsea away to Burnley — even if he later revealed in subsequent performances that the pressure was showing.

The affair with Wayne Bridge’s former partner cost Terry the captaincy and that has continued to distract him, eat at him and been a factor in his anger that led to the possibility of a mutiny - by one man at least. Terry has since apologised to Capello, to the squad and also, one by one, to the players he named as having gone for a drink following the soulless draw against Algeria and who were horrified to be implicated by him in some kind of conspiracy.

It has surely been another humbling experience for Terry in the past few days but without Rio Ferdinand and with Ledley King injured and Jamie Carragher suspended, England needed him to step forward especially as, alongside him in central defence, Matthew Upson was beset by nerves, passing the ball haphazardly and appearing almost stage-struck. Terry had sought out Gerrard prior to kick-off for one of those pre-match chest kisses and he produced a performance that banished the doubts about his worth to this team.

Had he been anything less than excellent and it may have even become an issue as to whether Capello would leave him out for the last-16 match.

England still remain one poor performance from a crisis, a day of reckoning and accusation and Terry will be central to that shake-out whatever happened. But not on Wednesday.

He played his part on Wednesday, stamping his mark on the contest — there was a fearless recovery tackle after Upson had allowed the ball to bounce over his head, there was a storming run forward after England had scored and time and again he was there to intervene, push his body in the way and block. It’s what he does best. Terry almost scored, also, reaching a deep corner at the far post only for Slovenia’s impressive goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to push his header out. That would have been too much, surely, but Terry was relentless in his protection of the cause, his desire to keep England’s campaign alive.

Upson reacted too. At the death, Terry faltered, the ball running away from him, trying for one more desperate intervention but as substitute Zlato Dedic shaped to shoot, perhaps pulling the trigger to end England’s hopes, end Capello’s reign, it was Upson who threw everything into an emphatic tackle. It was one of which Terry would have been proud and after days in which he had hurt his own reputation and caused angst here was 90 minutes of redemption, 90 minutes of release. Capello will hope the unease as well as the fear has disappeared.