Sergio Ramos: Right Time For Chelsea Fullback Cole To Join Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos expects Jose Mourinho to land Chelsea fullback Ashley Cole.

Ramos says Cole will follow in the footsteps of fellow Englishmen David Beckham and Michael Owen by joining the Madrid mega-club.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: “We are a club that is always looking to improve by adding the best players in the world.

“We have a proven record of ­signing English players – with David and Michael – and it would not surprise me at all if our two new arrivals this summer were English. Ashley Cole is a terrific player.

“For me, he is by far the best left-back in the world and, along with Drogba, Chelsea’s best player.

“I am sure Chelsea will do all they can to keep him but he had a difficult year in England.

“A change might be what he is looking for. When a player is the best in his position in the world and doesn’t play for Real Madrid, you have to consider it a waste.

“He has done everything in England for Arsenal and Chelsea. It’s now time for him to come and win La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho.”

And it is the Portuguese boss who Ramos believes will seal the deal.

He added: “Jose will know all about him. He has a history of signing players and trying to sign players from his previous clubs.

“More importantly, players seem to love playing under him.

“I spoke with Cristiano Ronaldo about him – and he told me Cole is the toughest defender he has ever played against.

“That’s quite a compliment coming from the world’s best player and he is exactly the sort of player we want.”

No England Players Want To Follow John Terry

In his own mind, he was the man riding to the rescue of England’s faltering World Cup campaign.

But after its embarrassing end, far from being the people’s champion, John Terry could have cemented his position as Public Enemy No1.

The disgraced former England captain’s infamous press conference and his botched coup against manager Fabio Capello came seven days before the final humiliation.

The man who proclaimed himself a natural leader then led by the worst example against Germany, when his abject performance raised questions as to whether Terry should ever play for England again.

As supporters tire of overpaid, overrated, over-privileged footballers, there was a warning from Argentina defender Martin Demichelis.

“Seeing the way Terry played against Germany, if I was Terry I wouldn’t be able to go back to my country,” said the Bayern Munich centre-back.

The international football community has turned on him. As devastating in his comments as he was with his finishing, Germany’s destroyer-in-chief Thomas Muller said of England: “It is difficult to have so many alpha males row in the same direction. You don’t need only chiefs, you also need a few Indians.”

And in Terry’s own mind, one male is more alpha than the rest. His one-man mutiny showed it.

It was an attempt to usurp the authority of both Capello and captain Steven Gerrard. But he overestimated his popularity.

Supposed co-conspirators were quick to distance themselves from Terry. Frank Lampard, his first lieutenant at Chelsea, pronounced himself loyal to Capello.

Cole Wants To Be Loved

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole will not rush a decision on his future as he searches for a manager who 'loves' him.

The 28-year-old is a free agent after his contract expired at Stamford Bridge, with boss Carlo Ancelotti deciding the ex-West Ham man did not feature in his plans.

Tottenham chief Harry Redknapp has held talks with Cole, having worked with the England international at West Ham, while Manchester United and Arsenal have also been credited with an interest.

But Cole is going to take his time over selecting his next club as he believes that his best years are still ahead of him and he wants to make the right choice.

He said: "I'm thinking about my own future now. I want to play in a more central position, like I did at West Ham.

"I feel I've got a lot more still to offer and my best days are ahead of me.

"I want the right kind of manager - a manager who loves me, who will put me in the team.

"At Chelsea there were players who could have two or three dreadful games before they were left out. I only had to have a dreadful 20 minutes and I was out."

Meanwhile, Cole believes the influx of foreigners into the Premier League is to blame for England's poor World Cup campaign.

"When I came through at West Ham our league was probably the fifth best league in the world," he said.

"A group of us came through at the same time and we were able to do that because of how things were in England then.

"Now, though, the Premier League is the best league in the world. That means it is much tougher for kids to break through.

"Maybe we're paying the price for having the best league in the world."

Cole also backed up Franz Beckenbauer's assessment that there is too much "kick and rush" in English football.

"Every team I have played for - from West Ham to Chelsea to England - want to hit the front players as early as possible," he said.

"You won't get away with that at international level. It's about technique, keeping control of the ball, passing and moving.

"Chelsea do that more than other teams in the Premier League, and that's why we've been successful, and it's the same with Manchester United and Arsenal.

"I was brought up that way and that's always been the way forward.

"Maybe it's time to really look at how we are teaching kids to play. Is there talent coming through? To be honest, I don't know."

Chelsea Reignite Interest In £20 Million Atletico Madrid Star Sergio Aguero

Chelsea are intent on stepping up their interest in Argentina forward Sergio Aguero following his side's defeat at World Cup 2010.

According to the Daily Mail, Blues coach Carlo Ancelotti has identified Aguero as his primary target this summer as he looks to add more youth to his ageing squad.

The 22-year-old frontman failed to start a game at the World Cup for the South American's and was largely used as an impact substitute, but still has eight goals in 24 international appearances.

With Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka both in their 30s, Ancelotti is expected to bring in reinforcements as he aims to win back-to-back Premier League titles and go further in the Champions League than last time around.

It is reported that Blues' owner Roman Abramovich would have to part with at least £20 million to land his top target and whether Atletico are willing to sell one of their most prized assets remains to be seen.

Chelsea In Contact With Benfica Over Possible Deal For Brazil Star Ramires

Chelsea is reportedly interested in bringing Brazilian midfielder Ramires to Stamford Bridge, according to the player's agent.

The Benfica star featured four times for Brazil at the World Cup but missed out on their quarter-final defeat to Holland due to suspension.

Ramires, 23, joined the Portuguese outfit in May 2009 for £6.5 million and his agent Luis Carlini, told the News of the World that the playmaker could be leaving this summer.

"Many clubs from the big European leagues have been in contact about Ramires," he said.
"Chelsea and Bayern [Munich] have spoken to Benfica, but I can't say more."

Ramires insisted that he is happy at Benfica but could be tempted by an offer from a high-profile club.

"I came to Europe to win championships," he said.

"It is normal that I would look at any offers from clubs in bigger leagues but I am currently under contract and Benfica will have the final say."

Raul Meireles Headed To Chelsea?

English club Chelsea has emerged as favourites to sign FC Porto midfielder Raul Meireles, as the Dragons close on a deal for Sporting midfielder Joao Moutinho.

Porto reportedly agreed a deal with Sporting for Moutinho, who will sign a four-year deal with Andre Villas Boas’ side. The Lisbon club will receive €10m, plus a player in exchange, with Nuno Coelho likely to be the makeweight. Sporting will also receive 30% of any future sell-on fee should Moutinho move abroad in the future.

Moutinho is expected to arrive at the Dragao as a direct replacement for Raul Meireles, who has been the subject of speculation over a big-money transfer after enjoying a bright World Cup for Portugal. Meireles was linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid over the weekend, but sources in Portugal suggest England is now his most likely destination.

According to reports, Chelsea is now at the front of the queue for the 27-year-old, who is expected to cost around €15m. There has been no official agreement between the clubs for Meireles, but agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Blues’ players Hilario, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Paulo Ferreira, is again taking a central role in the negotiations.

Chelsea Ready To Open Their Cheque Book With Sensational £100 Million Swoop For Kaka And Fernando Torres

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly ready to swoop for Brazilian ace Kaka and Liverpool's Fernando Torres in an audacious £100 million double transfer deal.

According to The People, the Italian hopes to be reunited with Kaka following their successful stint together in Milan, and it speculated that the highly regarded playmaker is ready to quit Spanish giants Real Madrid after just one season.

Despite leading the Blues' to a domestic double winning campaign last season, Ancelotti has convinced Russian owner Roman Abramovich he needs to strengthen the squad this summer in order to launch a bid to achieve the elusive Champions League success.

Kaka has hinted he believes he might not fit into new manager Jose Mourinho's tactical style of play and would possibly welcome a move away from the Bernabeu.

This has alerted Chelsea, who will be first in the queue to sign the Brazilian with an offer of around £50m, with Ancelotti confident he can bring the best out of his former protege once more.

The only stumbling block to any deal will be Mourinho requesting one of his former players moves in the opposite direction as part of any deal.

The Blues' have a huge hole to fill in the centre of their midfield following the release of Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Deco. Having lightened the books with three top-earners ushered through the exit, it is believed Ancelotti will have money to spend this summer.

Opening up their coffers to Ancelotti could also see Liverpool's resolve tested to keep stellar striker Torres. Despite Roy Hodgson's appointment at Anfield, it is speculated the Merseyside outfit are still suffering from financial difficulties and any big money offer would be too much of a temptation to resist.

Ancelotti Sets Sights On Thomas Muller

Sources in Germany are claiming that Bayern Munich man Thomas Muller is now Carlo Ancelotti’s number one summer transfer target. The young attacker has had a fantastic World Cup thus far, scoring four goals to help the Germans to the semi-finals.

The 20 year old adaptable attacker was a relative unknown until this season when he established himself as a crucial part of Louis Van Gaal’s side, scoring 19 goals during the Bavarian club’s double winning success. He has followed up with some superb performances for his country to make himself indispensable to Joachim Low’s plans.

Ancelotti has been looking at various potential targets as he looks to freshen up his somewhat ageing Stamford Bridge side and has reportedly earmarked the powerfully built youngster as a signing he is very keen on making. He may have his work cut out however as Muller has only recently signed a new contract keeping him at the Allianz Arena until 2013 however the allure of a move to the Premier League may tempt the talented Munich man.

Roman Abramovich has stated that he would back Ancelotti’s attempts to bring in new faces following the departure of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole and the likely exit of Portuguese veteran Deco and would be more than happy to fund a move for the player thought to be valued at around £22m.

Previous reported interest in Muller: Manchester United and Chelsea have both reportedly made tentative enquiries about Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller.