Pato Speculation Dismissed

Alexandre Pato's agent has rubbished reports linking the striker with a move away from AC Milan.

Speculation has suggested that Real Madrid and Chelsea are both pondering summer moves for the Brazil international.

However, the 20-year-old's representative Gilmar Veloz maintains that he has no intention of leaving the San Siro, where he is under contract until 2014.

"Chelsea and Real? These are only market rumours," Veloz told calciomercato.it.

"There is nothing true. He has a deal with Milan and he feels good in Milan."

Veloz also expressed his pride at continuing to represent Pato after some reports claimed he had changed his agent.

"I'm happy this has been cleared up. I'm Pato's agent and I stay with him for several years," he added.

Pato is currently sidelined with a thigh injury but is expected to be back in action in around 10 days.

Coach Calls For Dzeko Decision

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko has been urged to make a statement regarding his future by his coach Lorenz Gunther Kostner.

Dzeko has established himself as one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe and was close to joining AC Milan last summer.

He eventually decided to stay at Wolfsburg, but has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave in the summer if a club offered in the region of £36million before 31st May.

Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City have recently been linked with bids for the Bosnia international and Kostner feels it would be beneficial for Dzeko to declare his intentions.

"Edin Dzeko will finish the season a Wolfsburg player, that's for definite, whatever happens after that is down to rumours," said Kostner ahead of the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie against Fulham on Thursday night.

"Edin Dzeko saying he will stay would be an absolutely huge sign for us. I can't tell you how important that would be for us, but that's neither here nor there. Right now we have to wait to see what happens in May.

"As his manager I can't have much influence on whether he stays or not. All I can say at the moment is that he is on absolute top form. He's really firing on all cylinders. He's doing fantastic."

Dzeko discussed his future last week and admitted that he has no preference about which country he wants to play his football in, only that he is playing regularly in the UEFA Champions League.

He told Sport-Bild: "I have never said I desperately want to join a club in Serie A, there are plenty of options.

"Spain is one, England is one and even Germany remains one. Still I am not going to comment on the name of any club.

"I have the intention to join a club that is playing in the UEFA Champions League every season."

Chelsea & Manchester City Scout Bari Defender Leonardo Bonucci

Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City are tracking Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci, according to reports in the Italian press.

The Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero claims that both Manchester City and Chelsea have sent scouts to watch the highly-rated central defender.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini are believed to have been impressed with Bonucci this season.

The 6.2ft defender, who is also attracting the interest of Inter Milan and Juventus, has been part of one of the meanest defences in Serie A in 2009/2010.

Leonardo Bonucci, 22, is also co-owned by Genoa and is expected to leave Bari in the summer after impressing alongside another highly-rated young Italian defender, Andrea Ranocchia.

CSKA Moscow Winger Dzagoev Still Has Chelsea Ambitions

CSKA Moscow star Alan Dzagoev admits he still has ambitions of playing for Chelsea.

The exciting Russia winger spent time at Stamford Bridge trialling as a teenager and remains hopeful of eventually pulling on a Blues shirt.

"Before, when I was young, I trained with the Chelsea Academy," he told La Stampa. "And, of course, even today I still prefer the Blues to other teams.

"I like them mainly because of Roman Abramovich."

Chelsea Fullback Gordon Gets Tranmere Rovers Reality Check

Chelsea fullback Ben Gordon admits he's been handed a reality check on-loan at Tranmere Rovers.

The 19-year-old former Leeds United junior knows he must consider the prospect that by experiencing football in the lower divisions for the first time, he may be taking a taste of his own future.

Gordon told the Liverpool Daily Post: “This is my first loan spell and things at Tranmere are quite a bit different to the way they are at Chelsea.

“I’ve had a few days training and a few matches. It’s different and it is brilliant.

“Obviously things like the training ground and the facilities are not like they are at Chelsea and bring me down to earth.

“They show me what it is like in this division.

“Things may look like this when I’m older, so it is a good reality check.”

Chelsea And Liverpool To Enter Bidding War For Lazio's Alexander Kolarov

A number of Premier League clubs, notably Chelsea and Liverpool, are tracking the availability of Lazio full-back Alexander Kolarov with a view to making a move for him this summer.

Kolarov has been catching the eye this season with a string of good performances for the Rome club, who are thought to be looking at rebuilding their squad this summer after a poor season.

With Lazio teetering on the brink of the Serie A relegation zone, Kolarov looks almost certain to be sold to raise cash for some new signings in the summer - or to play top-flight football if his club go down.

But the Serbian international said the reports of interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as Italian and Spanish table-toppers Inter Milan and Real Madrid, will not distract him.

'I find that different clubs are interested in me every day when I open the newspapers,' he told fanzine La Lazio Siamo Noi.

'The interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool and Inter cannot but flatter me.

'However, so far there has never been anything concrete.'

Ashley Cole Training Again, Could Return For Chelsea This Month

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has resumed training and may return to first-team action against Stoke City on 25 April at Stamford Bridge.

The England defender broke his left ankle during Chelsea's defeat to Everton in February. Following surgery, Cole underwent intensive rehabilitation during a three week spell in France.

According to London's Evening Standard, the 29 year-old did some gentle running exercises at Chelsea's Cobham training ground yesterday.

The news will be welcomed by both Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti and England coach Fabio Capello, who is already without left-back Wayne Bridge, who ruled himself out of World Cup contention.

Chelsea Launch New Search For Asian Star

Chelsea’s groundbreaking Search for an Asian Soccer Star is back and this year is bigger and better.

Two of last year’s Asian Stars have now gone on to sign for professional clubs and this year Chelsea will be offering six lucky players the chance to win a week-long trial at their world famous Academy.

Once again the club has teamed up with the Asian Media Group and Kick it Out to support the tournament which will take place on the second May Bank Holiday Weekend (29-31) for players from Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi backgrounds aged 8 to 13 years old.

Participants will be judged on a series of matches and tests specifically designed and used by the Chelsea Academy to examine speed, skill and ability.

One player from each age group will be selected for a week’s training with the Chelsea Academy squads during the summer with any player meeting the required standard being offered the chance to be signed by the Blues.

The initiative is the first of its kind ever undertaken by a professional football club and is designed to give a much needed boost to Asian participation at all levels of the game.

Last year’s initiative saw 350 young people attending the Cobham training ground and the three winning players training and turning out for Chelsea teams during the summer. Two of last year’s winners have since gone to be signed by Leyton Orient and Southend. “Last year was a massive success with two of the boys going from Sunday League football to play for professional clubs,” said Simon Taylor Chelsea’s Head of CSR. “We want this year’s tournament to be bigger and better so we have doubled the amount of age groups and trials on offer. The scheme is not just about finding the next Anelka, Drogba or Lampard, it is about breaking down barriers, showing Asian players that opportunities at all levels of the game do exist and encouraging them to maximise their potential.” Chelsea will also be inviting managers, coaches and scouts from clubs at all levels of the game to identify talented youngsters and information will also be on hand for Asian players to find clubs in their area.

Kalpesh R Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media & Marketing Group (AMG) said: “Asian Media & Marketing Group (AMG) are proud to be associated with Chelsea in their search for an Asian Soccer Star. The Asian community has become involved in many fields over the years but the involvement of Asians in football is scarce and we all need to work together and encourage more involvement from the community.

Piara Powar, Director of Kick It Out added: “"We fully endorse the Search for an Asian Star initiative. The outcomes from the 2009 initiative demonstrate how a project like this can break down stereotypes, and give genuine opportunities in the professional game for talented young Asian players."

"The Chelsea scheme uses the best that the club can offer to reach out to the best talent in a way that gives other young Asians the encouragement to believe that there is a place in the game for them."