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.'