Ancelotti Plans For The Future With Ozil And Muller Bids

Chelsea are rumoured to be monitoring German international pair Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller as Carlo Ancelotti looks to bring youth to his ageing Stamford Bridge side. The Italian is a big fan of both Bundesliga stars and is hoping to plan for the future as he sees the backbone of his Premier League winning side reach the autumn of their careers.

Having already released Michael Ballack and Joe Cole the Blues are keen to bring in midfield additions but are only interested in those of tender years and they have already been heavily linked with a move for Werder Bremen talent Mesut Ozil but are now also said to be interested in Bayern Munich youngster Thomas Muller.

Roman Abramovich is said to be ready to make a massive cash injection in order to freshen things up at the club and a move for the pair would set the west London club back around £45m but its a price the Russian is willing to pay in order to keep his side challenging on all fronts even after the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole hang up their boots.

Ozil, 21, and Muller, 20 may well be tempted by huge salary increases that would come with a move to the club and they may well feel that a move to the club could best help their dreams of significant continental silverware.

England Boss Capello Backs John Terry Despite Criticism

England boss Fabio Capello says he never contemplated dropping John Terry following the defender's public criticism of the World Cup campaign.

Capello stated on Monday that Terry made a "big mistake" in questioning his training methods and tactics.

But the Italian said on Tuesday: "John Terry is one of the most important players [for England]."

England must beat Slovenia in their final group match on Wednesday to reach the knockout stage of the tournament.

Capello admitted it was "possible that I made some mistakes" in England's first two matches of the tournament - disappointing draws against the United States and Algeria.

However, the 64-year-old insisted he had a good relationship with the squad - including Terry, whom he stripped of the England captaincy in February after allegations the Chelsea defender had an affair with an England team-mate's ex-girlfriend.

"Every time when I speak with the players they follow me," said Capello.

"The players are happy. They trained very well. I think it's normal to have pressure at the moment. We have a play-off to be in or out. We have to win."

Blues Linked With Move for Benfica Centre Back Luiz

Benfica centre back David Luiz is the man Carlo Ancelotti wants to rejuvenate his ageing central defence.

The Blues are said to have bid £10m for the 23-year-old Portuguese, although his club say he will not go for less than the £40m release clause in his contract.

Ancelotti is concerned that Chelsea are creaking at the back, with Ricardo Carvalho slowing at 32, John Terry now 29 and Alex just a year younger.

Clearly Portuguese side Benfica are having a laugh if they think they will get £40m for the decent, but not spectacular, defender David Luiz. We are after all talking about a Brazilian who is yet to be called up to the full international set up and therefore probably more fairly priced at the amount Carlo Ancelotti is willing to offer.

Chelsea do have a very real problem to counter and that is the oft discussed issue of their ageing first team squad. Its perhaps the defence that shows most strain in this regard and a new younger option to turn to when the likes of Terry and Carvalho hang up their boots is needed.

I believe that the Stamford Bridge boss is more likely to look for homegrown replacements and not just because of the new Premier League regulations but also because he realizes how key the English backbone has been to the club over recent years and is clearly hoping to replicate this in the future.

The club has already brought in the likes of Ross Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge in the past year so perhaps he may indeed opt for trying hard to integrate the likes of Chelsea youngsters Ryan Bertand and Sam Hutchinson over the course of the coming season?

Sevilla Join Race For Free Agent Michael Ballack

According to a report in El Correo, Primera Division outfit Sevilla are considering making a move for German international Michael Ballack in the summer transfer window. The experienced midfielder is a free agent after being released by Chelsea.

The Blues' decision to let go of Ballack has alerted several big clubs, as Manchester United, Inter, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburger SV are all believed to be keen to sign the influential midfielder. However, Sevilla have now joined the race for Ballack's signature.

The Nervionenses have been in the market for a new midfielder for a while now and have also secured the services of Tiberio Guarente. However, head coach Antonio Alvarez isn't done on the transfer market just yet and has now set his sights on Ballack.

The 33-year-old Ballack initially appeared to be on his way back to Germany, but the former Bayern Munich star could be tempted to move to Spain in order to play Champions League football with Sevilla.

Arsenal & Tottenham On Notice As Manchester United Deny Interest In Chelsea Midfielder Joe Cole

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are now the favourites to sign Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole after Manchester United denied interest in the England international.

Cole is a free agent after negotiations with the defending Premier League champions stalled, and the 28-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

However, United sources report that United are not interested in signing Cole this summer, according to The Guardian.

Sir Alex Ferguson has mentioned his appreciation of Cole but with the Chelsea midfielder struggling through an injury plagued season and demanding a high salary, United are not looking to sign the Englishman.

It now appears that Arsenal and Spurs will be the most likely candidates to sign Cole as both north London clubs have had talks with his representatives.

Deco Doubtful For Portugal's Clash With Brazil

Portugal midfielder Deco faces a battle to be fit in time for his side's final Group G match with Brazil in Durban.

Deco missed the 7-0 win over North Korea on Monday with a hip problem but he has not given up hope of being ready to take on Brazil in their final Group G match on Friday, but remains non-committal about his fitness.

Deco said: ''It's so-so. I'll try to be better for the game but we'll see. ''I'm still having treatment and I hope to be available.

''I have nothing to prove against Brazil, I just want to play and help my team. What is important now is qualifying for the next phase.

''We want to play well against them, we had a good game against North Korea, controlled and game and scored seven goals. We're enjoying it now, the win was important.''

Deco's chances of playing Brazil seem slim regardless of his injury, with replacement Tiago stepping in and performing superbly in an excellent team performance.

Whether or not he plays, Deco acknowledges Portugal will need to be at the top of their game to stand a chance against the five-time World Cup winners.

''Brazil is a different game, we know they are one of the favourites to win the World Cup and we'll try to do our best in the game,'' he said.

Tiago admits a 6-2 friendly defeat by Brazil in 2008 will be on their minds when the sides meet again.

''In the last game we lost to them in a big defeat and now we have chance to beat them,'' Tiago said.

''It's not revenge; we are two great teams in the World Cup. Both teams want to go through and want to win the game, so it is not revenge, it is just a game.''

Chelsea Star John Terry Apologises To England Boss Fabio Capello For Public Outburst

John Terry has issued an apology to England manager Fabio Capello, following the Chelsea defender's call for a frank exchange of views following the Three Lions' draw with Algeria last week.

Terry had implied to reporters that some unpleasant things were likely to be said by players to the manager at a team meeting on Sunday evening.

He also named Joe Cole as a player who should come into the team to improve the attacking options.

As it turned out, the team meeting is believed to have run along conventional lines, with Capello speaking and the players listening.

Capello also branded Terry's outburst "a big mistake" in a television interview on Monday, and now Terry has apologized and given his manager his full backing.

It also appears that the backing Terry expected from certain of his team-mates did not materialize.

"I went into yesterday's press conference with the intention of being honest," Terry said, according to The Daily Mail.

"I was asked a question about Joe Cole and maybe I went too far. But it was never my intention to upset the manager or the players and if I did upset anyone, I apologise.

"I have told the manager he has my total support and I would like to stress that I don't believe I have been a disruptive influence in the camp.

"I would now like to put this episode behind me and concentrate on trying to win what is a massive game for England. All I was trying to do was to say how important it is to me to try to win the World Cup.

"I just hope people at least appreciate that I have taken the time to call you and have asked you to report what I have to say in response."

Chelsea Striker Nicolas Anelka Lands In London After France Ejection

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has landed in London from South Africa, according to L' Equipe.

The 31-year-old striker was kicked out of France's World Cup squad following a verbal attack on coach Raymond Domenech during half-time of the defeat by Mexico.

He left South Africa on Sunday evening, landing at London's Heathrow Airport early on Monday.

Anelka will now go on holiday before joining up with the rest of Chelsea's squad for their pre-season program.

France are on the verge of leaving the tournament at the group stages as they currently find themselves three points behind Uruguay and Mexico.

Recent reports suggest that Anelka is considering retiring from international football after being sent home, even though coach Domenech will be replaced by Laurent Blanc after the World Cup.

My Favourite Games: John Obi MIkel

Not a man renowned around the club for his nostalgia, John Mikel Obi selects two games from the past three months that stand out in his memory.

Favourite game played:

After already beating Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a John Terry header, the away game that followed was a slightly more productive affair as the Blues romped home to a 2-1 victory.

A cleverly taken opener from Joe Cole, as he back-heeled over the line, was added to by Didier Drogba's strike deep in the second half as we completed the season's six-point total over the Reds.

The reason Mikel depicts this game as his favourite played is all down to the African's ideals of, if you're going to do something, you should do it right.

When we travelled to Old Trafford, the side knew exactly what they needed to achieve and how to achieve it, as the Mikel explains.

'The favourite game I have played in was Manchester United away this season when we won because of the scenario,' he says.

'We knew what we had to do, our plan was to go there and win and when you have a goal, you want to do something and you do it, that's always amazing.

'We knew we had to go there and win and we went there and did it, at their home ground, which just makes it more special.'

Favourite game watched:

Mikel's favourite game watched came on the European stage this year, when a tough encounter between Arsenal and Barcelona pitted what some would argue as the two best football-playing sides in the world against one another.

That depiction of the two sides may hold true for the Catalan club, but most would assume a football-playing side would win trophies, unlike Arsenal in recent years, but regardless of individual opinions, this was always going to be a great tie.

The first leg took place at the Emirates, when the north London outfit was forced into a two-goal comeback following strikes in either half from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Theo Walcott pulled one back for the hosts before a Cesc Fabregas penalty evened the scores.

So Arsenal travelled to the Nou Camp, where a 4-1 thumping ensued as Lionel Messi proved his capabilities and forced Arsene Wenger into hailing him as the world's best player.

Arsenal may have taken the lead through Nicolas Bendtner in the 18th minute, but Barcelona, and more to the point Messi, were too much for the travelling side to handle.

The 22-year-old Argentine levelled the scores after 21 minutes, before helping his side take the lead in the 37th. He would also add one more before half-time arrived.

Spent and without their influential captain Fabregas, Arsenal would concede one more three minutes from time. It was the final nail in the coffin as Messi single-handedly annihilated the opposition.

'The goals in that game were phenomenal,' says Mikel. 'Messi showed just how outstanding he is. It was a brilliant game for him.'