Blues Still In The Market

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he will look to complete two more signings before the close of the transfer window as Chelsea close in on the signing of Benfica midfielder Ramires.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has reined in his spending in recent times but, with Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti all leaving the club on free transfers this summer, Ancelotti feels replacements for all three are a necessity.

"We are not in any hurry," he told Sportske Novosti. "We have the whole of August to complete deals. The strategy of the club is clear. Compared to last season, we have lost Belletti, Ballack and Joe Cole, so we will add three players in these positions. So far, we've brought in [Yossi] Benayoun from Liverpool."

With the departure of right-back Belletti, Chelsea have been linked with a move for Shakthar Donetsk and Croatia defender Darijo Srna, 28, to fill the gap.

Asked if Srna was among his targets, Ancelotti said: "I understand your curiosity as a journalist, but I must stress that I cannot give you the names of players Chelsea are interested in signing."

Asked if he wished Sportske Novosti to issue a denial that Chelsea want Srna, he said: "No - I don't want to deny that we are tracking an interesting player."

Chelsea Aim To Push Through £18m Signing Of Brazil Midfielder Ramires

Chelsea have agreed a fee of £18m (€22m) with Benfica to buy the Brazil midfielder Ramires and they intend to push him through a medical at the club before confirming his signing by the end of the week.

But there remains some concern at Stamford Bridge over whether the 23-year-old will qualify for a work permit at the first time of asking. The regulations state a player must have appeared in 75% of his country's internationals over the past two years, and Ramires falls short of this requirement.

Chelsea may have to appeal to obtain a permit under the special-circumstances ruling. Ramires appeared for Brazil at the World Cup finals in South Africa, catching the eye in the last-16 victory over Chile, and he is rated as one the continent's most promising young players.

His arrival would mean Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has to get rid of one of the 17 senior overseas players in his squad to comply with the Premier League's new rules. The odd man out is likely to be the midfielder Deco, who is tipped to move to Fluminense in his native Brazil.

It is unlikely Ramires will be a Chelsea player in time for Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester United and Ancelotti said his first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech will not be fit for the fixture at Wembley. The Czech international will not have recovered from a torn calf muscle. Ancelotti added that Cech will not be available for the Czech Republic's friendly against Latvia next week.

Ancelotti hopes Cech will be ready for the opening game of the Premier League season, at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday week, but he will have to play either Henrique Hilário or Ross Turnbull against United, both of whom have looked shaky in pre-season. The defender Alex, who also has a calf injury, should be fit for West Brom.

Didier Drogba is set to play his first minutes of the pre-season against Hamburg, following his return to training after a minor operation on a groin. The Ivory Coast international carried the problem, which has been referred to as a "sportsman's hernia", in the final matches of last season. Ancelotti intends to play his Community Shield line-up against Hamburg.

Carlo Ancelotti Left Dazzled By His Rising Stars

Chelsea are expected to field a near full-strength team against Hamburg in Germany as manager Carlo Ancelotti turns his pre-season preparations up a notch.

The Double winners take on Manchester United on Sunday in the Community Shield and the names gracing Wembley should be the ones that Stamford Bridge regulars are used to. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba should all feature in the Imtech Arena and then against Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

Yet, Ancelotti is more excited about the youngsters he will have sitting on the bench. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has accepted partial blame today for the failure of the England team at the World Cup. “We want the England manager to be spoilt for choice,” he said when referring to the lack of talent that coach Fabio Capello had at his disposal this summer.

But while Academies at clubs in the Premier League are not producing young English talent at a rate fast enough to keep the critics off Capello's back, his fellow Italian Ancelotti could not be happier with the production line at Cobham.

Jeffrey Bruma, Josh McEachran and Billy Clifford all appeared in the team that won the FA Youth Cup last season and have all had big roles to play in Chelsea's pre-season.

All started in the defeat by Ajax and Bruma and McEacharan have been joined on the current two-match tour of Germany by three other academy products, Patrick van Aanholt, Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini.

New rules this season stipulate each club must nominate a squad list of a maximum 25 players for Premier League action, eight of which must be home grown' — that is someone who has been registered for any club in England or Wales for a period of three years while under 21. This number can be supplemented by any registered players under the age of 21.

So far Yossi Benayoun is the only new face through the door and Brazilian Ramires — work permit providing — will join him, with Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and Joe Cole all having left the club.

That will put the emphasis on Ancelotti's youngsters but the manager is not worried.

“It is the same thing as in the Champions League so we are not surprised about this and this rule can improve the Academies in the clubs,” he said.

“I don't think we have a difficulty to put a squad in. We have the right number of foreign players.

“I am happy because it is important for our Academy — they are very good players, they need to stay with us and will have more chances this year.

“I know them very well. We followed them for the last year and it is the time for them to be involved in the squad. I don't know how many games they can play this season but we need to have these young players in our squad.”

The dilemma for Capello is the wording of the new rules which mean any Academy products do not have to be English. While McEachran (Oxford) and Clifford (Slough) are local enough, Bruma (Holland), Van Aanholt (Holland), Kakuta (French) and Borini (Italy) only demonstrate how good Chelsea's scouting network now is across Europe.

There is more hope, though, in that 12 out of 23 players listed on the club's website as being in Chelsea's Academy for this season are English.

One young player expected to make the grade at Chelsea is 17-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran.

A regular youth international, McEachran played a key role in England's Under-17 European Championship triumph this summer, scoring in the group stages against Czech Republic and impressing against Spain in the Final.

Comfortable on the left or in the middle, McEachran was one of the Chelsea's finest performers in their FA Youth Cup Final win against Aston Villa last season.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti is a confirmed admirer and handed McEachran, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, a squad number last January (51) and invited him to travel with the first team for last season's Carling Cup tie at Blackburn.

He has continued progressing during pre-season and has been involved in all three Chelsea games so far as they build towards the new campaign and their defence of the Premier League title.

McEachran started alongside established first-team players Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel against Crystal Palace last month and again against Dutch giants Ajax in Amsterdam. He also replaced Florent Malouda after 58 minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

There is genuine belief at Stamford Bridge that the talented teenager can make the next step and become a regular first-team squad member.

Ferreira Hopes For Chelsea Chance

Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira says he is looking forward to getting more games under his belt ahead of the new season.

The Blues launch the defence of their Premier League title next Saturday but first face arch rivals Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Ferreira has been on extended leave following his involvement in the World Cup finals for Portugal and Wednesday's friendly against Hamburg represents only his second outing of pre-season.

And despite the first competitive match of the season on the horizon, Ferreira says he would rather be on the pitch in an attempt to regain full fitness.

"It is important that we get to play against Hamburg, we want to start the season well," Ferreira explained to the club's official website. "And after this game we still have a few days to work really well for Manchester United on Sunday.

"It is another important game and we want to be in good shape. The group is like it always is, everybody is happy and we are doing a good pre-season so far.

"I am feeling much better, us players who came from the World Cup started after the others but we have worked hard to catch up and after one week of work you begin to feel much better."

The 31-year-old's involvement in the World Cup means time off has been scarce for the right-back, who helped the Blues to the Premier League title last season.

But Ferreira says he is grateful to have had a holiday while his colleagues were reporting back for pre-season training early.

He added: "It was a short summer, but for the ones not involved in the World Cup it was a long break. But we cannot complain, we had 25 days of holiday, it is not bad.

"I had wonderful holidays and tried to enjoy them as much as I could, and now I am ready to start again.

"I went to the south of France and home to Portugal, and I did nothing, I just wanted to enjoy it after the Premiere League and World Cup.

"When you have a break you want to relax and be with the family, the kids, and enjoy it until the last day. Now it is time for work again."

And following his recuperation, the former Porto man is eager to be a regular fixture in Carlo Ancelotti's starting line-up.

"I will work hard all season and try to enjoy every match that I get," said Ferreira. "Of course I would like to play more than last season, and help the team to win trophies."

Chelsea Youngster Scott Sinclair Set To Make Blackpool Loan Switch

Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair is set to stay in the Premier League and make a loan switch to newly promoted Blackpool, according to the Daily Mail.

The 21-year-old has made just one top flight start in five years at Stamford Bridge and spent last season at Wigan Athletic.

With no sign of a breakthrough into the Blues' first-team, he had courted interest from Championship outfits Ipswich Town and Swansea City.

The England youth international is expected to spurn the chance to drop down a division and return to the north west of England.

The switch is believed to be partly inspired by his girlfriend - Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan - working in Manchester.

Carlo Ancelotti Explains Joe Cole's Exit

Carlo Ancelotti has said Yossi Benayoun's arrival will compensate for England winger Joe Cole's departure.

Cole signed for Liverpool after being released by Chelsea following the breakdown of talks, with Benayoun having already moved the opposite way.

"Joe Cole at Chelsea had a fantastic career but this year is another story," Chelsea boss Ancelotti stated.

"We are happy to have Yossi here. Joe was quicker, with respect to Yossi, but tactically I think Yossi is better."

Cole was a popular figure at Chelsea throughout seven largely successful years at Stamford Bridge.

The England international struggled with injury last season following knee surgery, but during the campaign Ancelotti labelled him "a genius" and said he was 100% sure that the 28-year-old's future was with the London club.

But talks broke down over a new deal, with Cole citing "political rather than footballing reasons", and the former West Ham star was allowed to leave on a free transfer.

However, Ancelotti said the capture of Israeli international Benayoun, 30, will add an extra dimension to Chelsea's midfield.

"He's an intelligent player, tactically he knows everything very well," Ancelotti added. "I tried to put him as a right midfielder in this pre-season and he can also play in his usual position as a winger.

"He has to train, to improve his condition but I think for us he is a good player."

Benayoun spent three years at Anfield after signing from West Ham, scoring 29 goals in 134 games from midfield.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti also insisted the Premier League's new rules which require clubs to register a squad of up to 25 players, including at least eight home-grown players will have no effect on Chelsea.

While home-grown players must have been registered to the Football Association or Welsh FA for three years prior to their 21st birthday there is no requirement for them to be English and Chelsea have promising youngsters Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt, Gael Kakuta, and Fabio Borini, along with the English Josh McEachran, in their ranks.

"It is the same thing as in the Champions League so we are not surprised about this, and this rule can improve the academies in the clubs," said Ancelotti, who is hoping to add Brazil midfielder Ramires to his squad from Benfica for £17m.

"I don't think we have a difficulty to put a squad in. We have the right number of foreign players.

"I am happy because it is important for our academy - they are very good players, they need to stay with us and will have more chances this year.

"I know them very well. We followed them for the last year and it is the time for them to be involved in the squad. I don't know how many games they can play this season but we need to have these young players in our squad."

Chelsea Do Not Need A Star Signing To Be Favourites For The Big Prizes Again

Carlo Ancelotti is a man of his word. Back in April, when Chelsea were still greedily eyeing the Premier League and FA Cup trophies, the coach told the world that rather than going on the sort of transfer rampage that characterized the early part of the Roman Abramovich era, he would merely be tweaking his existing squad by inducting a handful of young players.

He believed in his existing players back then, pre-Double win, and he was proved right. Many worried that the Italian would struggle to impose himself in the transfer market at Stamford Bridge, having employed a relatively hands-off approach in his previous post at Milan and having been constricted by Silvio Berlusconi's belt-tightening. Yet few considered that he might not actually need to invest.

Chelsea, popular wisdom had decreed, were a ticking time bomb with the lynchpins at the heart of the squad - Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry - growing old together and demanding imminent replacement. The Premier League, popularized worldwide by its frenetic pace & energy, is a more age-obsessed arena than most, and ever since the early days of Jose Mourinho, the Blues have been defined by their ability to grind down and overpower opposition.

That Drogba and Lampard, both 32, drove Chelsea to silverware last season has forced a reassessment of previously undisputed truths. Here were two 30-somethings who weren't just hanging in there but augmenting their already sky-high standards. Both enjoyed career-high goalscoring seasons (29 and 22 Premier League goals respectively) to top it off.

In this context, Ancelotti's reluctance to make big changes is unsurprising. He put his faith in stability, in the tried and tested, while at San Siro, and has a better, leaner, more hungry set of players now than he did in his final years in Serie A.

The parallels between the coach's transfer market approach in Italy and England are hard to ignore. It is hard to believe that the powers that be at Stamford Bridge were not attracted by Ancelotti's ability to regalvanise and motivate existing, heavily-decorated players. As a club, Chelsea have talked about their aim to be self-sufficient for several years, but because their first two Premier League titles were inextricably linked to large-scale spending, many found it hard to take seriously.

The Blues' image as a ruthless money machine (and a plentiful source of transfer speculation for media) will not go away. A huge list of names were linked post-season - David Villa, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Franck Ribery - but the club let it be known that they were not prepared to do business at 'above the market rate.' In other words, they wouldn't be competing with Manchester City and would only do business for big names at relative bargain prices.

Ancelotti and the board know well that to improve such a stellar squad is a mightily expensive business. Yury Zhirkov, a relatively low-profile arrival, set them back £18 million last summer, and a similar figure will be spent on Brazilian midfielder Ramires in the days to come.

Ramires is a very 'Chelsea type' of player, certainly more so than the likes of Kaka or even Ribery. The 23-year-old hardly leaves a trail of stardust in his wake, but will be greatly appreciated at Stamford Bridge; an unflashy, dedicated performer who relentlessly eats up the turf in midfield. The other arrival, Yossi Benayoun - an experienced, industrious Premier League player - is similarly a typical signing.

With the Premier League's newly-introduced 25-member squad rule (of which eight must be 'home-grown,' or have been at the club for three whole seasons leading up to their 21st birthdays) a coach of Carletto's sobriety is a boon. He made it clear that he considers the five or so academy players that he will promote to the first-team squad this season as his new signings. Having seen one of them, Gael Kakuta, dominate with such elan at the recent European Under-19 Championships, it's difficult to argue.

Contextually, Chelsea are in a good position to play it low-key, as reigning champions and with funds tight at Manchester United, Liverpool and (as always) Arsenal too. The great dichotomy of the Blues' 21st century success has been their nouveau riche image set against their industry and collective strength. Ancelotti is too shrewd to remove the foundations on which that success has been built.

Benayoun The Blue

Yossi Benayoun believes he's at the perfect age to join Chelsea, although he expects to be part of a rotation system initially.

The 30-year-old, who signed from Liverpool this summer, knows the competition he'll face to break into the first team but is looking forward to the challenge.

'It's the perfect age to be at a big club,' explained the Israeli international. 'Let's not forget that for the last three years I have been at a big club.

'I have left a big club, I have come to a big club, so for me it is the same and I believe I can prove myself here.'

Benayoun, who captains his national side, is certainly experienced in the workings of the Barclays Premier League, having worn the colours of West Ham before heading north to Liverpool.

During his career he's played in several roles, which is why he's ready to work for a place no matter what position he may end up.

'I will play in any system,' explained our new number 10. 'I will try to do my best and be involved in the team.

'If I am not then I will try harder and prove myself, because there are enough big players here to play any system. I just want to be on the pitch, anywhere.

'I am intelligent enough to understand this is a big club and you can sit on the bench. There is a big squad with a lot of players but I have a lot of patience.

'At Liverpool I was sat on the bench a lot but when I had the chance I proved myself and deserved to play. This is my ambition here also.'

It's been over eight years since Benayoun last won a trophy, following consecutive league titles with Maccabi Haifa back in Israel under the guidance of Avram Grant.

It may seem like a long time without silverware, but the midfielder's proud of his achievements.

'I am happy with my career, to play for Liverpool for three years and come to Chelsea, not many players can say this and I am proud.

'I hadn't played for big clubs until I went to Liverpool, although I almost won the FA Cup with West Ham,' he added before revealing the relationship he still has with the former Chelsea manager, a man who offered some invaluable advice before Benayoun joined the Blues.

'Avram gave me a few tips,' he said. 'He told me to come with confidence and patience and believe I am good enough, so I just need to work hard and prove it.'