Chelsea's Florent Malouda Saddened By Joe Cole Exit

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has pinpointed defending the Premier League title as the Blues' priority for next season - though he admits that having to do so without the services of England winger Joe Cole saddens him.

Cole was released by Chelsea and, as Goal.com has revealed, looks to be on his way to Arsenal.

Malouda was unhappy to see his team-mate leave and is uncertain as to the exact reasons for his departure.

"Joe has spent so many years at Chelsea, that it's really strange. I don't know why [he was allowed to leave]," he mused.

"I think everybody enjoyed the way he was committed to the club.”

However, the Frenchman is looking ahead to new targets. And while retaining the Premier League crown will be the club's main aim, on a personal level Malouda's ambition remains bringing European glory to Stamford Bridge by helping Chelsea win the Champions League.

"First is to defend the league. We were fighting last year to get the league back. We have to defend our trophy," he told Sky Sports News.

"After that [it's] the Champions League. I wish in my Chelsea career that I could touch that trophy and lift that trophy, but I won't give up, even if we fail next year, which I don't want, but I won't give up."

As for winning the title last season, Malouda cites the win at Manchester United on April 3 as the key point in the campaign.

"That's where we took the trophy back because after that we knew [with] that one point [lead] we had to defend it," he added.

"To win the league at the last game in the way we did it was incredible. The key was ambition; hard work every day and commitment.

"It was an obsession to become champions."

Sepp Blatter Apologises Over Frank Lampard 'Goal' In England v Germany

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has apologised to England over Frank Lampard's 'goal' against Germany in the World Cup, and has revealed he will 'reopen the file' on the use of goal-line technology in football at a board meeting next month.

Blatter, who has previously stood in the way of introducing any form of modern technology into the sport, also apologised to the Mexican FA over Argentina's controversial opening goal in their last-16 match, when Carlos Tevez was shown to be offside.

A shot from Lampard bounced down off the crossbar and was a yard over the goal-line - but the Uruguayan officiating team did not award a goal.

And this incident - coupled with the Mexican players' lengthy protests after replays of Tevez's goal was shown on the big screen in the stadium, highlighting the officials' mistake - has forced Fifa into a rethink over their policy.

Blatter told a media briefing in Johannesburg: 'It is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA board in July.

'Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes but it's not the end of a competition or the end of football, this can happen.

'I have spoken to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees mistakes. I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising.

'We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have the first opportunity in July at the business meeting.'

In March, Fifa blocked attempts by the Football Association to push through further experiments with technology in football.

However, Blatter now appears to have had a change of heart.

He continued: 'It happened in 1966 and then 44 years later - though it was not quite the same.

'I apologised to England and Mexico. The English said 'thank you and accepted that you can win [some] and you lose [some], and the Mexicans bowed their head and accepted it.'

The Fifa president added a caveat by saying only technology for goal-line incidents would be re-examined - not offside decisions such as the one during the Mexico v Argentina match, which Diego Maradona's side won 3-1.

'The only principle we are going to bring back for discussion is goal-line technology,' he explained.

'Football is a game that never stops and the moment there was a discussion if the ball was in or out, or there was a goal-scoring opportunity, do we give a possibility to a team to call for replays once or twice like in tennis?

'For situations like the Mexico game you don't need technology.'

David Silva 'Rejects Chelsea' To Complete Manchester City Transfer

David Silva will join Manchester City in two weeks' time after the Premier League club confirmed they have agreed a deal with Valencia - ending any lingering interest Chelsea had in signing the highly-rated Spaniard.

The 24-year-old, who has been a reported target for several English sides all summer, will sign a five-year contract at Eastlands once the World Cup is over.

Silva is due to fly to Manchester following the conclusion of the tournament in South Africa, and his signing will be confirmed after he completes a medical and puts pen to paper on the agreed deal.

'I would like to thank Valencia as a club and all of their loyal fans, and my team-mates there and staff,' said Silva, who is currently preparing for Spain's World Cup quarter-final against Paraguay this weekend.

'I have enjoyed six years at Valencia, they discovered me as a footballer and they will always be a special club for me.

'But the time is right for me to seek a new challenge, and I am thrilled about playing in England with Manchester City.

'I believe the Premier League is one of the best competitions in the world and I want to bring success to City and win trophies for them.'

City manager Roberto Mancini described Silva as 'one of the best midfielders in Europe' and said he is 'so pleased' to have signed the playmaker for an undisclosed fee ahead of next season.

'I think he can make a big, big impact for Manchester City,' explained the Italian, who is already talking up his side's chances of challenging for the domestic league title.

'In signing David, we are showing the world that we are bringing the best players here and that we hope to compete to win the Premier League.

'When players see what is happening at Manchester City and the ambition they are attracted to what we are building and want to be a part of it.'

Ashley Cole And John Terry 'Lined Up For Big-Money Real Madrid Transfers'

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is said to be planning to bring in Chelsea stalwarts Ashley Cole and John Terry to boost his defence for the 2010/11 La Liga campaign.

Both players, who now have the chance to sit down for talks over their club futures following England's elimination from the World Cup last week, are being targeted by Real in a bid to wrestle the Spanish title back from bitter rivals Barcelona.

Mourinho rates both Cole and Terry very highly from his time at Chelsea between 2004 and 2007.

And the Blues are reportedly willing to listen to offers for both players, given the respective personal problems they have suffered throughout the course of last season in England.

The news comes after Cole reportedly send a mobile phone message to a group of friends earlier this month, which has since been made public, saying, 'I hate England and the f***ing people!' - hinting he could move abroad this summer.

Mourinho would be the favourite to land Cole's signature, while the Portuguese tactician is also the most likely man to be able to persuade Terry to leave Stamford Bridge.

Recent speculation suggests the Blues are considering cutting their losses on the former England captain, whose ropey performances in the second half of last season and at the World Cup have made Carlo Ancelotti nervous about his fading powers.

Terry was largely at fault for Germany's crucial first and third goals in the 4-1 humiliation in the last-16, having been caught too far upfield for both, and his much-vaunted positional sense has been found wanting on several occasions in recent months.
At 29, the pace of Spanish football may be better suited to Terry's game and he is rumoured to be tempted to depart Chelsea in order to be reunited with his former coach in Madrid.

Malouda Says Chelsea Fans Can Be Excited About Youngsters Coming Through

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda says fans can be excited about the youngsters coming through at Stamford Bridge.

The former Lyon man believes the club wants to give their younger players a chance to shine and that involves developing the likes of Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini, Jeffrey Bruma and Patrick van Aanholt.

"I think the fans always want big names and that's normal. I think the club has a strategy to improve.

"They are trying to bring on young players like Kakuta, Borini, Bruma and my friend Patrick van Aanholt.

"I hope that they could have the opportunity to wear the shirt."

Wolves May Abandon Bid To Sign Chelsea's Mancienne

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy may abandon his attempts to sign Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne.

The 22-year-old centre-back, who spent last season and two months at the end of 2008 on loan at Molineux, had been a target of McCarthy's.

But Chelsea's indecision to let him join, either permanently or on loan, might force Wolves to look elsewhere.

"I can't hang around waiting for decisions to be made that might be negative ones," said McCarthy.

"I've been asked about Michael Mancienne, but we've done business and signed a centre-half in Steven Mouyokolo."

Mancienne initially joined Wolves on loan at the end of October 2008 and made 10 appearances for McCarthy's side in two months in the Championship.

When the Molineux outfit was promoted to the Premier League in 2009 he joined on a season-long loan, making 30 appearances.

The central defender was employed mainly in a defensive midfield role during the second half of last season because of the form of Jody Craddock and Christophe Berra.

Mancienne has won 21 caps and scored one goal for the England Under-21 team.

He was named in England manager Fabio Capello's senior squad for the friendly against Germany in Berlin in November 2008 but did not feature in the match.

AC Milan To Try To Beat Arsenal To Joe Cole With £9m Contract

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has emerged as a summer target for AC Milan, according to a report from Corriere dello Sport.

Goal.com UK revealed previously that the England winger had agreed a deal to join Arsenal for the new season, but it seems that some of his suitors have not yet given up the chase.

The Rossoneri are set to try and tempt the player away from the Premier League with wages of £60,000 - £20,000 a week less than he was on at Chelsea and £40,000 lower than the amount he was seeking from a new contract with the Blues.

England manager Fabio Capello has apparently recommended the star to Milan chief Adriano Galliani.

Inter, Lazio and Juventus are also reported to be monitoring the 29-year-old's situation, though they may all be disappointed as Cole agreed in principle to join Arsenal before flying out to the World Cup, and his move to the Emirates should be completed assuming he passes a full medical.

Arsenal is offering Cole £80,000-a-week on a three-year contract laden with incentives.

Chelsea Go To War With Manchester City Over Benfica Defender David Luiz

Chelsea are set to take on moneybags Manchester City in the race to land promising Benfica defender David Luiz, according to Record.

The Brazilian youth international shone last term for the Portuguese champions and has had a £40 million price tag slapped on him.

As well as the Premier League pair, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter have all been linked with the versatile defender.

A £20m bid from City has already been turned away, but this has not deterred Carlo Ancelotti from entering the race.

He believes the lure of Champions League football will be enough to bring Luiz to Stamford Bridge.