Chelsea Primed For "Schweini" Bidding War

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is ready to step up his pursuit of Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger after reports in Germany revealed that Real Madrid have had a 50 million euro offer rejected by the Bundesliga champions.

The Stamford Bridge club is keen on the German international with Carlo Ancelotti placing the all-round midfielder at the top of his summer transfer shortlist, along with Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun, and Argentine Sergio Aguero. The Chelsea manager is eager to land Schweinsteiger after losing out on signing David Silva, who completed a reported £26 million move to Manchester City; however the Blues face stiff competition from Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.

According to German TV channel ARD, former Chelsea boss and current Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho had a 50 million euro offer for Schweinsteiger turned down by the Bayern Munich hierarchy. Chelsea have not made an official offer as of yet but Bayern are aware of Carlo Ancelotti’s interest in the talented German international. With Bayern standing firm reports in Spain suggest that former Blues boss Jose Mourinho goes head on with current Chelsea incumbent Carlo Ancelotti in the race to sign the player nicknamed “Shweini.”

At this moment in time Bayern Munich have a clear “hands off” stance, with manager Louis Van Gaal eager to keep his prized assets in Munich, warding off interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid.

"I Now Want To Represent A Big Club"

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko has urged the club to allow him to leave amid rumours Manchester City have made a lucrative offer for the Bosnian international. The 23-year-old has been coveted by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti for some time, by City’s superior financial muscle appears to have given Roberto Mancini the edge over his Premier League counterparts.

Dzeko has a £32.5 million buyout clause but according to recent reports, the prolific striker’s glut of suitors including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been unwilling to match Wolfsburg’s lofty valuation, and indeed Manchester City are reportedly eager to get the Bundesliga club to sell for less having already agreed personal terms with the long-term Premier League target.

Dzeko has been in blistering form for the last two seasons, netting a hugely impressive 48 league goals, and last summer the striker was embroiled in another protracted transfer wrangle when rumours suggested Manchester United and Arsenal were vying for his signature. Despite strong intent from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger, Wolfsburg have defiantly resisted any efforts to prise the player away the club, and at the beginning of the week they told Manchester City that they have no intention of selling their star asset.

Although Wolfsburg’s strong stance has appeared to deter Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti all seemingly unwilling to match or better the Bundesliga side’s lucrative demands, Manchester City are believed to be maintaining a stout interest in the Bosnian. Yesterday, reports from Germany suggested City had returned with a new offer, and the player this morning urged Wolfsburg to consider selling him.

The striker told kicker-Sport magazine: "I now want to represent a big club so I can develop further,"

"This has now become my big desire. I hope and I believe VfL will let me leave now.”

"I am aware of the clauses in my contract, but I have already said that this point in time would be too early. It is too early for other clubs.”

"Now I have received a good offer I have to talk about it with the manager and the managing director."

Carvalho Close To Chelsea Exit

Ricardo Carvalho is expected to move to Inter Milan now the Chelsea player's World Cup dream is over.

The Portuguese centre half was linked with a move to Italy last summer, but back then Inter president Massimo Moratti baulked at Chelsea's asking price.

Although two years are left to run on Carvalho's contract at Stamford Bridge, talks are expected to recommence once Carvalho has unpacked his bags from the trip to South Africa.

The Blues' reluctance to release young defender Michael Mancienne to Wolves is clear evidence of a shake-up in their back-four. Mancienne, a favourite of Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, featured in 30 league games for the Wanderers as part of a loan deal last season.

But McCarthy has expressed frustration that Chelsea dragged their feet over negotiations to make the deal permanent.

The Wolves boss said: "I’ve been asked about Michael Mancienne, but we’ve done business and signed a centre-half in Steven Mouyokolo.

"I can’t hang around waiting for decisions that might be negative ones. I could lose the ones that I’ve been looking at so I don’t know what will happen with that one (Mancienne)."

Chelsea are understood to want to keep the England Under-21 man as defensive back-up, with Carvalho on his way out. Chelsea are not immediately expected to sign a Carvalho's replacement, and will go into the season with John Terry and Alex as the first choice pairing, with Mancienne and youth prospect Jeffrey Bruma as cover.

Deco Set To Finalise Future

Fluminense are planning to unveil the signing of Deco later this month.

Deco has a year left on his current contract at Stamford Bridge, but the 32-year-old midfielder has made little secret of his desire to move back to his homeland.

The Brazilian-born Portuguese international has been waiting until the end of the World Cup before finalising the details.

Now with Portugal out, he is negotiating the final details of his release - but Fluminense are already planning to unveil his signing on July 15.

"If Chelsea let me go, I have given Fluminense my word - although I have not signed any pre-contract," Deco is quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

"If I finish my time in London, then I will go to play in Brazil."

It is understood Deco will sign an 18-month deal with Fluminense.

Agent Hints At Serie A Move For Joe Cole

England international midfielder Joe Cole could join a club in the Italian top flight this summer, according to his agent.

Cole was released by Premier League champions Chelsea at the end of the 2009-10 campaign and the 28-year-old has yet to sign a contract with another club. However, there has been interest in the player from some Serie A clubs, according to his agent.

"For now, there isn't anything new to report. Joe has returned from South Africa and will now go on holiday," David Geiss has been quoted by Eurosport as saying.

“There are always clubs interested… In around two to three weeks there will be some news.”

When asked about interest from Milan and Juventus, Geiss remarked, “They are possible deals and I confirm that we are not dealing with rubbish.”

Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that AC Milan were keen to rope in Cole by offering him a three-year contract worth £9 million.

David Beckham Cooled England 'War' Between Steven Gerrard & John Terry At World Cup 2010

David Beckham had to intervene in a row between Steven Gerrard and John Terry that threatened to split the England camp ahead of the Three Lions' defeat to Germany, according to a report from The Sun.

It is apparently believed that Gerrard, along with his Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher, were on one side of the split with Terry on the other.

The Reds duo were reportedly incensed that Terry had called the England players into a huddle after the game against Slovenia.

That was seen as a direct challenge to Gerrard's captaincy of the side, and the row had threatened to spill over until Beckham apparently stepped in as peacemaker.

The Sun claims that that was enough to diffuse the row, though it also hints that the matter may now fester on following England's somewhat shambolic exit from the tournament in South Africa.

Ashley Cole Receives Death Threats After England Defeat

Football fans across the nation have issued death threats to Ashley Cole after he told pals: “I hate England and the f***ing people!”

The Three Lions flop has become an even bigger hate figure after he posted the treacherous text message slamming his own countrymen.

And furious fans who stood by the love-rat defender through his divorce from Cheryl Cole have responded by saying: “If you hate it so much here then f*** off somewhere else.”

Others are so angry with Cole they even claimed they want to kill him.

Thousands of supporters across England have vowed to make the mega-bucks Chelsea star’s life hell if he stays in the Premier League.

But they are unlikely to get the chance as Cole, 29, is said to be on the verge of making a £25million move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he will hook up with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, 47.

England’s loyal fans forked out a fortune to follow Cole and his team-mates across South Africa on their shambolic World Cup campaign.

But the ungrateful star, who leads a life of luxury and rakes in £110,000 a week, paid them back with his foul-mouthed rant.

Cole posted his offensive message on his BlackBerry to his online friends as his status update.

Later the pampered star tried to explain his comment by whimpering: “I always try my hardest for England and Chelsea but the intrusion and pressure I feel is making my life hell.”

But he got no sympathy on internet football forums yesterday.

One fan said: “Cashley don’t come back at least we the English people don’t have to see your ugly mug.”

Another added: “It is quite simple Cole, live abroad you odious little scrote.”

A number of fans also wrote sinister messages, including one who said: “I’d like to burn the little bastard to a crisp.”

Cole’s rant emerged a day after the shameless player was pictured with fellow defender Ledley King, 29, in fits of laughter following England’s humiliating 4-1 drubbing by the Germans.

Football Supporters’ Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke warned England’s stars they risk losing fans for good if they are seen enjoying themselves too much this summer.

He said: “In the light of the very poor performance of the England team at the World Cup and the large amounts of money which loyal fans spent following the team around South Africa, I think a period of silent reflection and humility would be good advice.

“A lot of fans are very committed to their country and the team and are quite rightly upset about what has happened.

“England needs to reflect on this.

“That includes the manager, the players and everyone else involved.”

Last night bookie William Hill was inundated with punters betting on Cole retaining his title of Most Hated Man In Britain.

He is 3-1 on to top the onepoll.com survey for the second year in a row after being dumped by wife Cheryl, 27, for cheating with a string of women.

He has been unpopular since releasing his 2006 biography when he complained that Arsenal’s offer of £55,000 a week was “taking the piss”.

Defensive Pair Inducted

The time has come to induct two more past players into our new Chelsea Legends section, and fans have voted for a long-serving defensive duo.

Between them they gave almost 30 years to Chelsea, each playing important roles in groundbreaking Stamford Bridge sides as we went from second division strugglers to Champions League contenders.

Steve Clarke joined in February 1987 as an attacking right-back, playing his last game in the Cup Winners' Cup Final of 1998 before returning to Chelsea as first a youth coach and then a reliable right-hand man to Jose Mourinho, and subsequently Avram Grant.

Carlo Cudicini was almost unknown when he arrived on a loan from Castel di Sangro in Italy, but would go on to play more than 200 times between 1999 and 2009, when he eventually departed in search of more first-team opportunities.

We welcome them both into the Legends section, while voting continues for your favourite Chelsea stars of the past.