Mata Reveals English Interest

Juan Mata has revealed that he would be open to a Premier League move should the opportunity arise.

The Spain international is hot property at the moment, having dazzled for Valencia over recent years.

At just 22 years of age it is expected that Los Che will struggle to retain his services for long, especially as they continue to struggle under the weight of financial upheaval.

Unsurprisingly, a switch to England has been touted, with the youngster seemingly tailor-made for the Premier League.

A tricky winger with a keen eye for goal, any number of clubs would be happy to have him within their ranks.

Mata insists he will not be pushing for an imminent transfer, as he is happy at Mestalla, but accepts the issue may be taken out of his hands.

Should Valencia decide that the time is right to cash in, Mata admits he would relish the chance to try his luck at any of England's so-called 'Big Four'.

"I don't know if I'll be sold, it depends on the economic situation of the club, which right now isn't so good," he told FourFourTwo.

"In the summer we have to raise a lot of money, and there is a possibility that they may have to sell players.

"In Spain they show many Premier League games on TV and it is an inspirational league.

"Maybe I would like to play in the Premier League. At the moment I'm here, I love living in Valencia and playing in the Spanish league, but in England the league is also top class and there are many big teams. Who knows?

"I admire Arsenal and the philosophy that the young players have. Liverpool, with their Spanish players - they also have an incredible squad. And Manchester United and Chelsea are teams that are very big, like Real Madrid and Barcelona, with money and incredible players."

Bayern Munich Warn Chelsea Off £20m-rated 'Crown Jewel' Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bayern Munich have warned Chelsea they have no intention of selling £20 million-rated "crown jewel" Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 25-year old has emerged as a key target for manager Carlo Ancelotti after a stellar season for the Bavarians since switching to central midfield.

With the youth product set to start for World Cup 2010 contenders Germany, a chase could begin to secure his signature.

Speaking to the press, Bayern chief Christian Nerlinger shot down any talk of a transfer.

"Schweinsteiger is among our crown jewels," Nerlinger revealed.

Kalas To Make Blues Move

Chelsea are reported to have snapped up teenage centre-back Tomas Kalas from Sigma Olomouc.

The Blues are just one of a number of clubs to have been tracking the 17-year-old stopper, and are believed to have won the race for his signature.

Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have all expressed an interest in the promising Czech over recent weeks, while Bayer Leverkusen thought they had reached an agreement at one stage.

However, the situation has developed further since then, with Arsenal and Chelsea having joined the hunt.

Arsene Wenger is reported to have spoken to Kalas personally in effort to tempt him to Emirates Stadium, with their reputation for nurturing young talent well known.

It appears, though, as if the Gunners have been pipped by their Premier League rivals.

Reports in the Czech Republic claim Chelsea have paid £5million to land the youngster, but are not prepared to publicly announce the signing just yet.

That has forced Sigma to also play their cards close to chest and refrain from naming the club involving.

They have, however, admitted that a deal has been struck and that the player is on his way.

"A spell at a top European club for Tomas Kala was successfully arranged today," read a statement on the club's official website.

Kalas' agent has also admitted to an agreement being reached, but has again stopped short of announcing the identity of his new employers.

"We cannot confirm the club's name yet," Pavel Zika told sport.cz.

"Negotiations were very difficult and I am glad they are behind us now, especially for the good of the player."

It is believed that Kalas, who has made only one senior appearance in the Czech top flight, will return to Sigma on loan for 12 months before moving to England full-time.

Essien Signs 'Important Contract'

Michael Essien hailed "one of the most important contracts of my career" after signing a two-year extension to his Chelsea FC deal that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2015.

Ghanaian international midfielder Michael Essien has put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension that ties him to Chelsea FC until 2015.

Essien arrived at Stamford Bridge from Olympique Lyonnais in 2005 and has since made 116 Premier League appearances, but has not played for his club this year because of a torn hamstring. The 27-year-old has subsequently been ruled out of his country's FIFA World Cup campaign but says he is delighted Chelsea have shown "very big confidence and interest in me".

He added: "I am looking forward to coming back and enjoying my football and winning more trophies with the club. That is why I am here. I think it is one of the most important contracts in my career." Chelsea won both the Premier League and FA Cup this season and will start next term in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Fans' Forum Search For Family Stand Season Ticket Holder

Chelsea is looking for a season ticket holder who sits in the family stand to join the Fans' Forum for the next two seasons.

Now coming to the end of its eighth year, the Fans' Forum has recently renewed its members but still have one place to fill.

You will meet four times per season, meetings take place at Stamford Bridge on home matchdays, and representatives are expected to attend every session which normally happen before kick off.

One of the aims of the Forum is to establish a dialogue between the club and fans and to develop a better understanding of issues that affect supporters.

To reflect the diverse nature of Chelsea's support, representatives are drawn from a variety of categories, including season ticket holders, club members and others.

This is why the Forum is now searching for a fan who sits in the family stand, so that supporters in this area can get a voice

Le Saux Backing England's Chances & Chelsea Health Day

Graeme Le Saux took time away from watching the World Cup to view one of Chelsea's men's health projects in action this week, and is urging fans to visit a special event at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The former Chelsea and England star, who is an ambassador for the club, gave the Official Chelsea Website a confident prediction for today's big match in South Africa but before that, he joined in with a football tournament in an estate local to our stadium.

It was part of Football in the Community's health programmes that range from actively engaging older men in football schemes to providing walk-in centres for health check-ups on match days

Men in Chelsea FC's local area are often reluctant to visit doctors and access health services and as a result some suffer from higher than average levels of obesity, smoking and drink-related illnesses, plus other preventable health problems.

Schemes such as the one Le Saux visited provide exercise and ongoing health MOTs where participants can have blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) checked and receive information about giving up smoking and cutting down on drinking. The programme can also refer people with depression and other mental health issues onto the relevant health professionals.

'Lifestyle has a huge influence on health and I had to change my lifestyle for my sport,' Le Saux told Chelseafc.com.

'But when you have different pressures on you it can make it a lot harder to think about it. It is very easy to eat things that are not good for you and these kind of projects are fantastic because you are combining sport and relating it to the professional side of the game, but equally you are involving healthy eating and healthy lifestyle.

'I am more aware of risks now because I am not paid to keep fit and as you get older it can be harder to resist some things, but I know what the consequences are.'

As someone who was subject to careful health screening during his playing days, Le Saux hopes Chelsea fans will make use of the ongoing projects, including our Football in the Community department's first Men's Health Day on Sunday to support Men's Health Week.

The event will take place at Stamford Bridge in the Great Hall situated in the West Stand from 12 noon to 5pm.

Summary Of A Season: Frank Lampard

With 27 goals from central midfield and countless assists, it seems Frank Lampard is getting better with age.

If you factor in the England man's extraordinary resistance to injury and his ability not to earn one booking in the entire campaign it is easy to see why many think it is he that makes the Blues tick.

His season began as it would continue against Manchester United at Wembley, where he contributed a goal, helped set up the other, and then buried a penalty in the shootout.

Questions were raised over his impact in games, but having returned to a deeper position from the top of the diamond, where he had been restricted, his influence grew once more.

He netted another at Sunderland as we turned around a half-time deficit, and helped create seven in as many league games that followed, despite not scoring himself.

The 31-year-old actually went 10 without a goal before four in three arrived in October, helping send Atletico back to Madrid empty-handed as we began to score freely.

It was Frank's free-kick that John Terry nodded in against United at Stamford Bridge in November before a thigh injury on England duty while jogging ruled him out of two games. He returned to contribute in a big 3-0 win away at Arsenal before a rare dead-ball error - his late penalty at Manchester City saved by Shay Given.

In a difficult Christmas period it was two successful spot kicks that dug us out of trouble against Portsmouth and West Ham, the latter having to be taken three times at his old home ground, requiring nerves of steel.

Doubles against Sunderland and Birmingham were followed by six quieter games, including disappointment at Inter, which would be compounded in the second leg when for once the game passed him by.

Lampard's goal, and cross for Terry, helped us into the FA Cup semis, and he bounced back from European disappointment by banging in four against Aston Villa.

The feat, the second time he had achieved it, took him over the 150-goal mark for Chelsea, over 100 in the Premier League, and beyond Roy Bentley to become our third-highest scorer of all time.

After converting another against Villa at Wembley to book a place in the Cup Final, the focus shifted to league football for the next five games, and it was here where Frank really delivered.

After scraping past Bolton it was he who pulled a late goal back at Spurs before scoring a beauty against Stoke, diverting Sam Hutchinson's deep cross back across goal and in, his second of the game.

A week later at Anfield there were major celebrations as he swept home Nicolas Anelka's square ball to confirm a massive victory.

A win over Wigan would provide his third Premier League medal, and he would not be denied.

Winning and taking a penalty (after a lengthy debate with Didier Drogba) he put us two to the good as we ran riot, setting up an historic Double should we beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final.

Having scored the winner there against Everton a year before, he clearly fancied it again, launching a 30-yard drive against the post inside the first 10 minutes as we laid siege to the Pompey goal.

It was a Drogba free-kick that broke the deadlock though, and even though Frank's final contribution was to drag a penalty wide at the death, he was there in the Royal Box to lift the trophy alongside John Terry.

It will be hard to match the outstanding exploits of 2009/10, but Chelsea's most capped international has the strength of mind and consistency to succeed. If we are as free-scoring next season, it will be in no small part down to Frank.

Fabio Capello Needs To Give Joe Cole The Chance To Shine

Der Kaiser reckons England play kick-and-rush and you have to wonder why the silky skills of Joe Cole have been ignored by Fabio Capello.

Although he has the initials JC he is not viewed as the potential saviour of his country.

Cole – released last week by Chelsea – spent England’s first game of the World Cup on the bench, watching England produce the sort of stuff which led to Franz Beckenbauer’s savage attack.

That seems to be the story of Cole’s career of late – a footballing gem not treasured by club or country.

Rated a boy genius at West Ham and likened by then boss Harry Redknapp at 17 to Gianfranco Zola, his huge ability on the ball has probably never reached its peak – or been allowed to reach its peak.

He remains a player who appears to frustrate his managers as much as excite them.

In the hurly-burly of the Premier League and England internationals, Cole’s artistry appears to be viewed now as superfluous.

It is not difficult to imagine his various bosses telling Cole what he is doing wrong, not what he is doing right.

There is something about the Islington-born star that has provoked managers into criticising him publicly – for giving the ball away, not tackling back and straying out of position.

Even Sven Goran Eriksson – that most mild-mannered Swede – had a dig in 2002 when Cole gave away possession which ended in a goal for Italy in a 2-1 defeat by the Italians at Elland Road.

Jose Mourinho at Chelsea did not hold back, slamming Cole after he scored the winner against Liverpool for neglecting defensive duties and hauling him off the pitch soon after his goal.

Mourinho famously described Cole as a player “with two faces” – one he liked (Cole’s flair and technical ability) and the other he did not (Cole’s alleged lack of enthusiasm for defensive duties).

You cannot imagine Eriksson or Mourinho acting the same way with Frank Lampard.

Perhaps Cole is too nice. One of the most pleasant footballers you could wish to meet off the pitch, he must have been gutted to see Shaun Wright-Phillips sent on for the out-of-sorts James Milner against the USA on Saturday.

Despite that he still found the time to say “safe journey home lads” to the waiting media after the game.

Redknapp, now at Spurs, is looking to snap up Cole on a free transfer with Harry stating what Cole really needs is a boss who makes him feel wanted.

Hopefully, Redknapp can give him that, but imagine how he would be embraced in Spain, playing for a top La Liga side.

Cole has improved massively when it comes to defending but the impression remains he has lost his identity as a footballer.

Maybe after Saturday’s deeply disappointing draw against the USA, Capello, who made Cole sweat on his World Cup place right up to the last minute, will turn to the playmaker at some point against Algeria tomorrow.

Maybe the Italian might tell the 28-year-old to go out and express himself.

Let’s hope so, because we might witness the resurrection of JC in South Africa.

David Silva Wants To Leave Spain For England

David Silva, the Spain international midfielder, has had a change of mind about moving to England and is deliberating whether to choose Manchester City or Chelsea amid firm interest from both clubs.

Silva's reluctance to leave Spain was described as unflinching when City opened formal talks with Valencia at the end of last season but the player has gradually come round to the idea of playing in the Premier League, not least because of the realisation that Real Madrid's new manager, José Mourinho, is not keen on recruiting him.

Barcelona also have other targets, having already signed David Villa from Valencia, and Silva is now left with a choice of remaining at Valencia or moving to England. His representatives have informed Valencia in the last 48 hours that he would like to take the option of a transfer.

That now boils down to a straight choice between City or Chelsea depending on a financial arrangement being agreed with his current club. That, however, is proving far from straightforward, with Valencia asking around €40m (£33.2m), a fee that is considered exorbitant at Eastlands and Stamford Bridge.

City were the first club to register an official interest in the 24-year-old and have the financial power to offer more than Chelsea in terms of both the transfer fee and the player's salary, which currently stands at £3m a year and could easily be doubled if he were to join Roberto Mancini's team. Chelsea, however, have the lure of playing in the Champions League next season and of joining a club that has just deposed Manchester United as champions.

Silva is described as open-minded but it is understood he marginally favours Chelsea on the basis that City's reputation in Spain is not yet of one of Europe's more powerful clubs, at least not in football terms. The likelihood is that he will wait until after the World Cup in case a good tournament persuades Madrid or Barcelona to look into his availability.

City's pursuit of Silva partly originates from their knowledge that two of their more creative players, Robinho and Stephen Ireland, both want to leave the club this summer. Robinho, one of Brazil's more impressive players in the 2-1 defeat of North Korea, has made it clear he does not want to return to Manchester when his loan arrangement with Santos expires on 4 August and his representatives are due to meet the City chief executive, Garry Cook, to make that official. That meeting was due to take place today but will now be held next week.

Chelsea Join Arsenal & Manchester City In Race For £20m-Rated Germany Star Mesut Ozil

Chelsea are set to join Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City in the battle for £20 million Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil.

The Germany international is one of world football’s most talented young players and Arsenal is keen to replace Cesc Fabregas with the 21-year-old this summer.

City is also interested in Ozil after seeing the midfielder develop in the last year, but Chelsea is prepared to beat everyone to the German star, according to the Daily Mail.

Ozil, who joined Werder Bremen from Schalke two years ago, has 12 months left on his current contract and has refused to accept a new deal from the Bundesliga club.

Chelsea have been interested in Ozil since he made his move to Werder Bremen and the defending Premier League champions are seeking a midfield replacement for departed veteran Michael Ballack.

Chelsea Stun Real Madrid With Offer To Triple Star Defender Sergio Ramos' Wage Packet

Chelsea have rocked Real Madrid by offering right back Sergio Ramos an £8.3 million-a-year wage packet to move to west London, according to Sport.

Ramos, 24, has developed in to one of the best defenders in the sport since moving to the Bernabeau in 2004. Although set to star for Spain at World Cup 2010, he is currently paid just £2.5m per annum, a figure the Blues intend to eclipse.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is a personal fan of the player, and has sanctioned a £48 million bid. With current right back Jose Bosingwa sidelined with a long-term knee injury, there is space in manager Carlo Ancelotti's side for the superstar defender.

Arsenal Beat Chelsea To Sign Dutch Youngster Ebecilio

Arsenal have beaten Chelsea in the race to sign Feyenoord starlet Kyle Ebecilio, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 16-year-old midfielder will join the Gunners on a three-year deal on July 1st. Arsenal will have to pay Feyenoord compensation for Ebicilio's training costs of around £500,000.

A strong and powerful attacking midfielder, Chelsea had thought that they were about to do a deal for Ebecilio but Arsenal's outstanding record of youth development under Arsene Wenger has apparently counted in the Gunners' favour.

Nonetheless, Feyenoord are disappointed to lose their young talent, having seen Ebecilio's cousin Jeffrey Bruma move to Chelsea in similar circumstances.

Feyenoord technical director Leo Beenhakker said, "We did what we could do by offering the kid a contract on time. But he wanted to wait, again this is his right. That he now goes to Arsenal, means that we only get a training allowance.

"This is the story of (Chelsea defender Jeffrey) Bruma, he was also a great talent that unfortunately never played for us. I treasure Ebecilio highly."

Ebecilio has represented Holland at under-15 and under-16 level.

Drogba: I Can't Believe It, But By The Grace Of God I'm Playing At The World Cup

Didier Drogba admitted he could not believe his World Cup dream was still alive after breaking his arm a week before the tournament started.

Drogba looked to be out of the World Cup after suffering the break in a warm-up game against Japan, but he made a remarkable recovery and came on for the final 25 minutes of Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Portugal.

And Chelsea striker Drogba, who said he will be fit to start Ivory Coast’s next game, against Brazil on Sunday, said he could not believe he was still able to play after fearing he would miss the tournament.

“I was very disappointed at first when I got the injury, but then the doctor said to me that I still had a chance to be in the squad,” said Drogba.

“So then we did everything in our hands just to try the impossible and, by the grace of God, the impossible has happened. It’s amazing. The work the doctors have done is incredible. It’s not easy to recover quickly from surgery and a broken bone and I’m just so, so grateful to be here and playing.

“Every time you put your foot on the pitch there’s a risk, but with the protection I had it was clear that there wasn’t any more of a gamble by me being there.

“The only problem I would have had was if I had fallen over. But even if I had fallen over it would only have been pain that I would have felt. Pain, I can cope with that. I wouldn’t take the risk.

“If I thought I couldn’t have played I wouldn’t have been on the pitch. Brazil is going to be a difficult game, but I hope I will have those few days to improve my condition and look at the parts of my game I couldn’t work on because I was at the hospital. But I’m confident.”

Why Frustrated Anelka Is Firing Blanks

A month after Aimé Jacquet decided against including a precocious young Nicolas Anelka in his final squad for the 1998 World Cup, L’Équipe went to visit the then Arsenal striker in Trappes, the town just half an hour outside of Paris he calls home.

They found him watching France’s second round match against Paraguay, which had the entire nation on the edge of its seat. The game went to extra-time and was ultimately decided by a strike in the 113th minute from Le Président himself, Laurent Blanc.

When asked if he would like to have been a part of it, an indifferent looking Anelka apparently replied: “It’s not that I don’t care about Les Bleus, but, at some point, you have to say stop. Otherwise you spend your life in front of the TV.” Anelka was just 19.

Four years later in 2002, an unconvincing spell on loan at Liverpool meant he was overlooked again despite performing well at the European Championship in Holland and Belgium. When Jacques Santini called Anelka up to replace the injured Sidney Govou in November, he point-blank refused, saying that he didn’t want to be ‘a stop-gap’. Anelka later demanded that Santini “get on his knees and apologise.”

His international career already appeared to be over and under Raymond Domenech it didn’t look like being resurrected as Anelka was ignored again in 2006. “I will not watch the World Cup,” he grumbled. “I feel Domenech called me back just so I could show my potential. I even scored. I think that right from the start, he had no intention of taking me on board anyway. I deserved a place.”

However, since November last year when he scored the winning goal in the first leg of France’s controversial play-off against the Republic of Ireland, Anelka has become a pillar of Domenech’s side. In fact, if he plays tonight, Anelka will set a personal record of starting eight consecutive matches for Les Bleus.

Nevertheless, his troubled history with France means the 31-year-old’s commitment still frequently comes into question. Wednesday’s L’Équipe even inquired whether Anelka really considers this summer’s World Cup in South Africa to be the pinnacle of his career, it of course being his first.

If Anelka does consider it to be so, why then is he having so much trouble working for the team as a lone central striker in both a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation? In each of France’s last four matches, Anelka has persistently dropped back into midfield to find the ball instead of maintaining his position and acting as the reference point for the attack as both systems clearly demand.

It’s the sort of role David Trezeguet excelled in; often disappearing, not playing any part in the build up, just being there when the move needed finishing. But Anelka, out of a need to touch the ball and feel included, can’t or maybe won’t make it work. The net result: he hasn’t recorded any shots on target in his last four matches and Les Bleus are struggling for goals.

“A centre-forward must call for the ball to be played deep and get on the end of crosses like Miroslav Klose did on Philipp Lahm’s ball for Germany’s second goal against Australia,” explained Bixente Lizarazu, left back of the great side of 1998 and 2000.

“Anelka does what he wants. He does what he likes. He will play the same match in whatever position you put him. If you put him at right-back, he would still play as a false nine.”

Statistics from France’s opening game against Uruguay last Friday show that Anelka received the ball just once in the opposition penalty area, but collected it 13 times around the half-way line. Luis Fernandez, his former coach at Paris-Saint Germain, claims this is indicative of the fact Anelka has never liked playing on his own up front.

“He grows frustrated very quickly in this position and rapidly ‘unhooks’ himself from the attack to find the ball. In Paris, with Jean-Louis Gasset, they were always saying to him: ‘Call out to the wings for the ball, then move, and ask for it in the box’. He didn’t want to. He always wanted to touch the ball.” Anelka’s apparent reluctance to play any other way supposedly led one former France manager to believe he didn’t like football at the highest level because of its emphasis on executing tactics to the letter, restricting his freedom of expression.

However, as Roger Lemerre’s former assistant René Girard countered: “It’s difficult to say that a player who is a regular at Chelsea with an Italian coach doesn’t like constraints.” World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry also believes Anelka has no problem playing as a lone striker, as he used to do everything required of him in that role when Zinedine Zidane asked him to do so; the implication being that there currently isn’t an authority figure within the French camp.

Of course, all the blame for France’s problems up front shouldn’t be left squarely on Anelka’s shoulders, even if his record at international level stands at only one goal every 300 minutes. Domenech has lined up seven different attacks in his last 12 matches, preventing his strikers from developing an understanding of each other’s movements and responsibilities.

It’s likely to be different again tonight against Mexico even though Domenech will persist with the 4-2-3-1 he used against Uruguay. Thierry Henry looks set to return to the starting XI as France’s central striker, but Anelka won’t be dropped. Instead, he’ll move to the right-hand side where he featured regularly during qualifying, taking the place of Sidney Govou

Anelka’s Chelsea team-mate Florent Malouda is certain to be back after his spat with Domenech last week. He will play on the left-hand side, meaning Franck Ribéry moves into the hole behind Henry at the expense of Yoann Gourcuff, undoubtedly the biggest casualty of France’s recent travails.

Chelsea Will Start Title Defence By Hosting West Brom

Chelsea begin their defence of the Barclays Premier League title with a home match against newly-promoted West Brom.

The match on August 14 means a return to Stamford Bridge for former Blues midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, now manager of Albion.

Next up for the champions will be a trip to Wigan, where they were beaten last season, before Stoke visit Stamford Bridge on August 28.

The title holders have to wait until October 2 for their first match against one of the big four clubs, when they face Arsenal at home, with the return fixture on Boxing Day.

Carlo Ancelotti's side first play Manchester United on December 18, with the two shaping up at Old Trafford on May 7 - the Blues' penultimate away fixture.

United, runners-up in 2009-10, also start with a home match against a newly-promoted team. Sir Alex Ferguson's side takes on Newcastle on the first day.

And Blackpool, the third of the sides promoted from the Championship, provide the Old Trafford opposition on the last day of the season, May 22.

There are two intriguing matches between top-four hopefuls on the opening day.

Liverpool starts the post-Rafael Benitez era with a home match against Arsenal, while Tottenham and Manchester City meet at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa faces West Ham and Everton travel to Blackburn, while Blackpool's first match in the Premier League is at home, to local rivals Wigan.

Elsewhere on the opening day, Steve Bruce's Sunderland are at home to Birmingham, one of the clubs he previously managed.

Wolves and Stoke clash at Molineux, while Bolton and Europa League runners-up Fulham meet in the north-west.

Summary Of A Season: Ricardo Carvalho

Having declared the 2008/09 season 'the worst of my career', his hamstring tearing three times being the prime reason, playing 11 games more in 2009/10 and collecting a championship winners' medal at the end of it allows Ricardo Carvalho to consider his sixth Chelsea year more of a success.

It was however another season hit by injury at the end for the hugely-respected defender who has spent half the last decade as a league champion in Portugal or England.

He did total 22 league games and five Champions League appearances and it all began very well. His diving header against Manchester United in the Community Shield was Chelsea's first competitive goal of the season.

With Alex's summer groin surgery chipping two month's off the start of the Brazilian's season, Carvalho's return to fitness was all the more important and he was there in his familiar position alongside John Terry for the first league game, but was left on the bench for the midweek visit to Sunderland three days later with Branislav Ivanovic coming in.

This was a pattern repeated in the early months when two games a week where scheduled. Care was being taken with muscle tissue that proved vulnerable the year before.

Matches against Fulham, Burnley, Porto and Spurs all had Riccy in defence and were won with no goals conceded but he was also there for defeats at Wigan and Villa when the team's set-piece defending came into question, as it had the previous season.

Alex came back into the frame in October but after rotation, Carvalho returned to start November's visit by Manchester United to the Bridge. He was the team's outstanding player on the day, making important blocks from Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney. Chelsea won 1-0.

A week earlier he had crossed with the outside of the boot for Ivanovic to head a fourth goal at Bolton.

A 3-0 win at Arsenal followed soon after the Man U win and Ancelotti during this period said:

'In this moment defensive players are doing very well. We have Terry, Ivanovic, Carvalho, and Ashley Cole. The defensive line is working very well.'

Beginning with defeat at Man City, December was less secure and although our Portuguese centre-back joined the collection of overseas players to make 200 appearances for the club that month, by Christmas he was firmly locked into a game-by-game rotation with Alex as Terry's partner.

It was a policy shelved in February, partly down to an Alex niggling injury. Carvalho played four in a row for a second time in the season but defeat in the San Siro to Inter was followed by the home low point - a 4-2 reverse against Man City. Carvalho was substituted 69 minutes in with Chelsea losing 2-1.

From then on in Alex was first choice. Carvalho did start a month later at Portsmouth but lasted only 36 minutes before suffering ankle ligament damage that ended his club season, although happily not his World Cup.

Ossie Ardiles: Frank Lampard-Steven Gerrard Axis Could Be England's Undoing

At the very latest, that was the day before or even 48 hours before kick-off. I wanted them to have worked on patterns of play, set-pieces, and their shape as a unit.

As a player, my preference was to know as early as possible, to prepare myself. I certainly wanted to go to bed the night before the game knowing I was playing.

Yet there is a counter-argument from some managers that they like to leave it until the day of the game — or in Fabio Capello’s case, two hours before the game – to keep the squad on their toes.

I’m not joining the long queue criticising Capello. For me, it is much ado about nothing, because at least seven or eight of the England team know they are in the starting XI. England have far more pressing problems to deal with.

But to deal with the Capello situation, criticism of managers is a part of World Cup finals. Always has been. Yet the only thing that counts when you are a manager is the set of results. How you do it really doesn’t matter.

And there are myriad ways to achieve your goals.

Managers have already been under pressure from their critics at this World Cup. England didn’t look very good, nor did France or Italy. Zinedine Zidane has found fault with France coach Raymond Domenech. They have said Marcello Lippi’s Italy are too old. I see Italy as a very strong group of players.

For me, sudden death games are when the real World Cup starts.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that Capello is under pressure from the English media. England needs changes, positional realignment, and they need to win the next game.

Capello has questions to answer. Choosing the goalkeeper from David James, Joe Hart and Rob Green was always going to be an issue; we knew that before the World Cup. There is nothing between them.

For me the most important issue Capello has to deal with though, is how Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard play together; who occupies left midfield, and who plays up front with Wayne Rooney. A formation aligned correctly could transform them as a team.

England have the personnel to play in a much more continental style. They need a slower pace, more time on the ball, and to let Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, and Aaron Lennon play.

At the moment, everything is so quick, at 100mph. That frenetic pace played into the hands of USA. It was like watching a Champions League team agreeing to a physical battle with a lower league team. Pointless — and dangerous.

England are certainties to reach the knockout stages. But unless they change, the Lampard-Gerrard situation will be their undoing when it comes to sudden death.

I feel watching all the games in the World Cup, the task is creatively unlocking, and then destroying, the opposition. Everyone is very well organised at this World Cup.

Gerrard and Lampard in a holding position don’t work. They don’t look right in defensive roles, and their talent for creative openings is wasted.

Perhaps Capello should go for 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. Michael Carrick is the natural holding role player, and I would get Gareth Barry in immediately on the left midfield, with Lampard and Gerrard pushing forward on the right, and left midfield channels, pushing up to work and hunt with Rooney. Almost 4-3-3. Lennon would be on my right midfield.

Capello could even push Gerrard right up front with Rooney with a 4-4-2, but I favour the first option.

If England relax and pass the ball, they would be a different side. Argentina, Holland and Germany have looked the best sides in the tournament so far. Why? They keep the ball for long periods, and play at their tempo and pace, and in doing so, find the space and creativity to find the goal.

Can England do it? We will have to wait and see because the real World Cup starts in 10 days’ time.

Chelsea Make £50 Million Bid For Torres

Chelsea are waiting to hear back from Liverpool having lodged a £50 million bid for Fernando Torres, according to a transfer insider.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given the green light to what would be the biggest domestic transfer in Premier League history, but will have to out bid Manchester City.

An insider close to the negotiations told Soccernet: "There have been two verbal offers for Torres, Chelsea are willing to pay £50 million, but Manchester City offered verbally £25 million more!

"Liverpool would naturally want the bigger sum, but Torres as made it perfectly clear that he won't be joining Manchester City, even though City would go as high as £200,000-a-week wages.

"Even so Chelsea would pay Torres £140,000-a-week and when you're at that level, the important thing for the player is to go to a club with Champions League football and the chance of winning the major honours.

Liverpool, who are still to appoint a new manager after parting company with Rafael Benitez last month, have not formally acknowledged Chelsea's approach.

The blues are also in the hunt to sign Yossi Benayoun from the Anfield club and Soccernet's source expects both players to be at Stamford Bridge next season.

"If you are asking my opinion both Torres and Benayoun will go to Chelsea, the Benayoun deal is very close to completion, but Torres won't be sorted out now until after the World Cup Finals."

Leverkusen Desperate To Sign Ballack

Bayer Leverkusen will do "all they can" to bring Michael Ballack back to the club eight years after his first spell in North-Rhein Westphalia ended following the most successful season in the club's history.

Ballack becomes a free agent at the end of the month when his contract with Chelsea expires and several clubs from the Bundesliga have been linked with him, but Leverkusen have been keen to make their interest known, with sporting director Rudi Voller declaring the club's interest on Friday.

"We know that he has two definite offers and we are now ready to start negotiations," general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser said. "We will do all we can to bring Ballack back. We are in close contact with him and his agent."

Nevertheless, Holzhauser knows his club cannot compete with the wages rivals Wolfsburg or even Hamburg could offer and is therefore hoping Ballack will follow his heart to return to the club he represented from 1999 to 2002 before joining Bayern Munich.

He finished runner up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in a memorable final year with Leverkusen.

"If he does come to us, then he is going to have to make sacrifices," Holzhauser added in the Express newspaper. "We cannot compete with what the others are offering."

Sergio Ramos Leaves Door Open To Chelsea Move

According to Spanish daily 'Sport', Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has refused to discount a move to Chelsea.

The newspaper claims that the Blues are willing to offer up to an enormous 70 million euros to the club of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to secure the services of the attacking right-back. Chelsea would also offer the 24-year-old a five-year contract worth 10 million euros annually.

Apparently, Real Madrid do not want to see Ramos leave, he made 40 appearances for the La Liga runners-up last campaign, scoring four goals and providing four assists. Ramos has a contract with Real worth 2.5 million euros a season until 2012/2013.

However, Real Madrid have yet to persuade Ramos to sign an extension and so the door has been left open for him to consider the possibility of a move to Stamford Bridge. 'Sport' suggests that Ramos may be interested in a move to Chelsea, or else he may be using it as a tactic to improve his bargaining position with Real.

Ramos himself appears to be playing his cards close to his chest, telling 'Sport', "I do not know where I will finish my career, because football takes many turns."

Ramos is preparing to make his World Cup debut for Spain against Switzerland.

Manchester City & Chelsea Target Dani Alves Rejects Barcelona Contract Offer

Manchester City and Chelsea have been given a boost in their chase for Barcelona right back Daniel Alves after he rejected a contract extension, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

The Brazilian international spurned an offer to boost his current deal, which runs out in 2012, by two years, amid big-money interest from the Premier League pair. With the ex-Sevilla defender a vital part of the La Liga champions' side, he has demanded a wage packet that reflects his status.

Roberto Mancini's side have refused to flinch in the face of a £35 million price tag, while Jose Bosingwa's injury problems with Chelsea have moved the Blues to the negotiating table.

Portugal Midfielder Deco Denies Row With Coach Carlos Queiroz

Portugal midfielder Deco has issued a statement to explain his post-World Cup opener remarks about coach Carlos Queiroz's choices.

The Chelsea playmaker had criticized Queiroz's decision to deploy him on the right flank in the second-half, only to replace him with Tiago just 15 minutes later. Portugal's opening match against Cote d' Ivoire ended in a goalless draw.

Deco had also questioned his coach's approach to the match, saying that trying to win in 45 minutes almost made Portugal lose the encounter.

He has now declared that it was not his intention to criticize his coach and that his comments reflected his disappointment with the result.

"I want to clarify that I have never had any problem with the coach and it was never my intention to put into question the leadership and the decisions of professor Carlos Queiroz," a Deco statement read.

"My words were uttered in the heat of the moment, without the slightest discernment, because the match had just ended and I felt deeply frustrated for not helping the team win.

"The first half did not go well. In the second-half there were more spaces and I was convinced I could help the team.

"No player likes to be substituted and I am no exception. I believed that at any moment I could make an assist or even score a goal a goal that would decide the match.

"That is where my frustration came from, motivated specially by not helping my team.

"But I never wanted to put the coach into question.

"We have two more matches ahead and we want to reach the Round of 16. That is the objective we are going to focus on."

Portugal will play their second World Cup match against North Korea on June 21st.

Carlos Queiroz Hits Out At FIFA After Didier Drogba Plays For Ivory Coast Against Portugal With Cast

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has criticised FIFA for allowing Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba to play with a cast in their World Cup opener.

The Chelsea striker had been in doubt for the match after having surgery on a broken arm, but FIFA decided that it should be up to referee Jorge Larrionda to rule on whether he could play with a cast on his arm.

"FIFA decided that the referee would make the decision," Queiroz said.

"That sounds strange to us because the rules handed to the national teams state that players cannot play with a simple string bracelet and, all of a sudden, a player shows up with a cast on his arm, putting the Portuguese players at risk.

"When people tell me there is an African football star that should play, I wonder if [the] rules are the same for everyone. We saw the cast but we do not know what he really used. Perhaps against Brazil the rules will change again."

Summary Of A Season: Nicolas Anelka

Following a Golden Boot in 2008/09, expectations were high on Anelka coming into 2009/10, but it was as a supplier of goals rather than as a scorer of them that he excelled this time around.

With Didier Drogba fit and primed to play as a lone centre-forward, it would be the Frenchman who adapted his game from last season, either playing in behind the Ivorian or out wide with a licence to roam.

The pair began the season in tandem and goals began to flow as early as its third league game, Fulham put to the sword with a strike and an assist each before another goal was added at home to Burnley, Drogba again the provider.

Two Champions League winners against Porto and APOEL were followed by a critical first goal against Liverpool, lifting an awkward Drogba cross over Pepe Reina and in.

There was then an eight-game goal drought but it did not concern Carlo Ancelotti, who said: 'He is a great player. People should give him more importance.

'I don't want to change Drogba and Anelka with any other couple. I think they are the best in the country,' the manager added. 'I think that they have fantastic qualities to play together.'

Five league assists in this spell would certainly have calmed the Italian, and he scored in back-to-back games against Everton and Portsmouth in December, as he reached 100 Chelsea appearances, before picking up an untimely groin strain as Drogba departed for Africa.

Nicolas returned in January with three in two games against Sunderland and Preston before an early strike at Burnley to ensure Drogba's absence was not felt.

His return seemed to blunt Anelka somewhat, but it was his sublime cross against Anelka's former club Bolton in April that helped bring to an end a 13-game barren streak, the header home a simple one.

A crucial square ball for Frank Lampard to convert at Anfield just about wrapped up a Premier League title, Anelka's second, and he added two further strikes in the last day demolition of Wigan.

In the FA Cup Final, although reined in slightly, he made history by becoming (along with Ashley Cole) the first man to do the Double with two different clubs, a brilliant achievement at the end of a solid personal season.

If Drogba can remain fit next time around, the chances are Anelka will be back in the supporting role, but there are few who do it better.

Blues Keeper An Option For Gradi

Crewe Alexandra boss Dario Gradi is hoping to bring in an unnamed Chelsea goalkeeper to solve the Railwaymen's goalkeeping crisis.

Gradi is keen to draft in cover for Steve Phillips, who has recently undergone a second shoulder operation.

The Crewe chief, who has a long-standing friendship with Chelsea reserve-team manager Steve Holland, told the club's official website: "Steve has recommended a young goalkeeper to us and he'll come up and join us for pre-season.

"It would initially be a short-term loan deal and we'll see where we are once Steve Phillips is back fit, and if he wants to be his understudy.

"The attraction for him is that he would start the season in the team, because although I do expect Steve Phillips to sign for us, I do not expect him to be fit for the start of the season.

"We expect him to miss the first few games of the season, so it would give this lad an opportunity."

Yossi Benayoun Close To Anfield Exit After Agreeing Terms With Chelsea

Yossi Benayoun has moved closer to a Liverpool exit after agreeing terms on a four-year contract with Chelsea, although the clubs have yet to finalise a fee for the Israel international.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has targeted the versatile 30-year-old as a replacement for Joe Cole who, along with Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti, will be released from Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of the month. Liverpool rejected a £4m inquiry from the Premier League champions for Benayoun last month and have not received another official offer since.

The midfielder, a £5m signing from West Ham United in 2007, has made no secret of his desire to return to London and has agreed in principle to join Chelsea on a four‑year deal. Reports in Israel, where Benayoun is on holiday, have claimed he will undergo a medical at Chelsea's Cobham training ground this week.

Benayoun will be the first high-profile player to leave Anfield following Rafael Benítez's exit should Liverpool agree a compromise figure with Chelsea. The Israel captain signed a four‑year contract at Liverpool last summer and scored nine goals in 42 appearances for the club last season. The midfielder, however, was often deployed as a substitute under Benítez and became frustrated with the former Liverpool manager as a result. Even with Benítez moving to Internazionale, Benayoun remains determined to leave for a club that can offer Champions League football and a better salary, and is expected to get his way in the coming days.

Why Replacing Joe Cole With Yossi Benayoun Doesn't Add Up For Chelsea

Chelsea have moved quickly to fill the void left by Joe Cole with Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun, if reports coming out of Israel are to be believed.

The midfielder has reportedly signed a four-year deal at the London club just days after Cole agreed to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer as he was unable to come to agreement on a new deal. But the club's decision to let the England winger leave has been widely derided in some quarters.

Goal.com UK looks at the numbers comparing the two men - and they suggest it is very much a sideways step by Carlo Ancelotti.

30 - Benayoun is approaching the twilight of his career at 30 years old. Cole is two years younger.

35 - How old he'll be if he sees out a four-year contract and one-year extension as mooted.

27.25 - Chelsea had one of the oldest squads in the Premier League last season. Fulham (29.03) had the oldest, while only Bolton, Stoke and Aston Villa also had older squads than Ancelotti's.

£80,000 - The weekly wage Joe Cole was on at Chelsea.

£120,000 - the wages Cole reportedly wanted and the sticking point for negotiations between the midfielder and the club.

£70,000 - The amount Benayoun will reportedly get per week at Stamford Bridge.

31 - The number of games Benayoun started for Liverpool in all competitions last season, while Cole was only picked 22 times.

44 - The number of attempts on goal the Israeli could muster during the last term. Cole was far more adventurous, firing off 59 in fewer appearances.

8 - Benayoun's goals contribution in all competitions (six in the Premier League, two in the Champions League). Cole could only manage two.

6 - How many times Benayoun set up his Liverpool team-mates for goals (four in the league, two in Europe). Cole racked up an impressive 10 assists despite making six fewer appearances than the Israeli.

Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho Determined To Resist Chelsea Bid For Kaka

New Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is determined to bring the best out of Kaka and resist any Chelsea bid for the Brazilian's services, according to AS.

The £56 million signing struggled at the Bernabeu in his debut campaign after his move from AC Milan and was the subject of stinging criticism. Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is still a fan of the player after their time at the San Siro and had asked Roman Abramovich to make an offer for his services.

Mourinho has informed the Madrid hierachy that Kaka is part of his plans next term and they should not cash in on the 28-year-old.

FIFA Give Didier Drogba All-Clear To Play With His Broken Arm

The Ivory Coast received a huge boost today after Didier Drogba was told that he can play at the World Cup.

Drogba had feared his South African dream was over when he broke his right arm in a friendly against Japan 11 days ago. The 32-year-old, who scored 37 goals to help Chelsea win the Double last season, had an operation to help speed up his recovery but still needed the go-ahead from Fifa to be allowed to play wearing a protective arm cast.

Ivory Coast were taking on Portugal this afternoon in their opening match in Group G and FIFA's head of media, Nicolas Maingot, confirmed the green light had been given following consultation with Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz and the match referee.

He said: “Regarding Didier Drogba, the referee of the match, Jorge Larrionda, has okayed the cast which Didier will use to play. The cast has been seen by the Portuguese delegation.”

Chelsea are hoping that Drogba will be playing next season with German international Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The Blues have been linked with a £25million move for the Germany international, who impressed in the 4-0 win against Australia. The club needs to strengthen their midfield, having already agreed to release Michael Ballack and Joe Cole, while Deco is also expected to be sold.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is looking to bring some fresh talent to Stamford Bridge and the 25-year-old fits the bill. But Bayern Munich, who successfully held off Chelsea's interest in Franck Ribery and convinced him to sign a new deal, are adamant he is also staying.

When asked about the future of Schweinsteiger and other star player Philipp Lahm, sporting director Christian Nerlinger said: “Lahm and Schweinsteiger are our crown jewels. They are not for sale.”

Chelsea look certain to have better luck with Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun amid reports he has already agreed terms on a four-year deal worth £60,000 a week. Liverpool were demanding £10m for him but a fee of around £6.5m is understood to have been agreed. Benayoun is expected to have a medical at the end of the week.

Ashley Cole & Wayne Rooney Take Part In England Training Session

England have today been boosted by the presence of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole at training in South Africa today.

The pair had been missing from the main session on Monday and had trained in the pool, along with injured Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King.

Rooney reportedly suffered a knock to his ankle in the weekend game against the United States, whilst Cole needed an extra day to recover from his exertions on Saturday.

Gareth Barry also took a full part in the session as the likelihood grows that he will return to the Three Lions line-up on Friday against Algeria.

Summary Of A Season: Juliano Belletti

No one last season fulfilled the role of 'squad player' more than Juliano Belletti who played right-back, left-back and several positions in midfield during the nine months.

He earned an English league winners' medal to add to his Spanish titles as reward for making 11 Premier League appearances, four of them starts, and he was on the pitch during the final two games that sealed the Double, although his FA Cup Final will be remembered for conceding an ultimately not-damaging penalty.

A troublesome Achilles delayed Belletti's start to the league campaign but he returned as a second-half substitute for Jose Bosingwa in late August when a win against Burnley was already in the bag.

His first three appearances were all as a sub, including stints as a holding and a right-sided midfielder, before his first start, on the right of a midfield diamond when neighbours QPR came calling in the Carling Cup.

With none of the usual free-kick takers on the pitch that night, it fell to Belletti to give the ball a real Brazilian-style thump from 35 yards, but the shot was saved. Unfortunately in 2009/10, Chelsea fans weren't treated to one of the long-range goals he had smashed in during his previous two Chelsea years.

In that September game he did embark on a tremendous 50-yard run that nearly ended in a QPR own goal.

Belletti was called upon again the next match when John Mikel Obi was forced off at half-time at Wigan but although the Nigerian was ruled out for six weeks, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack were preferred by Carlo Ancelotti to fill the gap.

There were however four starts for Belletti at right-back over the period with Jose Boswinga's season over, Paulo Ferreira not in the Champions League squad and Branislav Ivanovic required in central defence at times.

One of those matches was a club-record-breaking 12th straight home victory, when Wolves were beaten 4-0.

The early, icy weeks of 2010 should have been Belletti's prolonged moment in the Chelsea spotlight due to African internationals taking others away.

'I spoke with Carlo after pre-season and said I can help the team, not just as a right-back but also in midfield in the absence of Mikel and Essien, and at this moment in January the team needs me,' he told the Official Chelsea Website in January.

The 33-year-old was needed to protect the back four but after three games, including a 7-2 win over Sunderland in which he had a hand in two goals, he suffered an injured knee early on at Preston in the FA Cup and was in recovery for a month.

He returned just in time to add decoy to the list of jobs taken on during the campaign, Ancelotti alluding to using him as an emergency left-back against Inter in the San Siro before selecting Florent Malouda there instead.

During his time in English football, conceding fouls in potentially dangerous positions had been a problem for Belletti, and it was with such actions that his Chelsea career unfortunately came to an end.

He was out-paced by Craig Bellamy 16 minutes after coming in the 4-2 home defeat by Man City, conceding a penalty and receiving a red card.

There was half an hour's action the glorious day when the League was won - his final appearance at the Bridge, but after replacing injured Michael Ballack in the FA Cup Final, it took seven minutes of play before a foul in the area on Aruna Dindane led to another penalty.

Happily Petr Cech did get something on the ball when the Portsmouth spot-kick was struck, clearing the way for the collection of a second major medal in a week as the farewell moment for a good servant who leaves at the end of his contract.

Adrian Mutu Ordered To Pay Chelsea €17Million Compensation Rules Swiss Court

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has been told he will have to pay Chelsea €17million in compensation in relation to his cocaine case after losing his appeal, the Swiss Federal Court said in a statement on Monday.

Mutu was sacked by Chelsea in 2004 after he tested positive for cocaine. And, after a five year legal case, Switzerland's Supreme Court upheld the CAS decision (Court for Arbitration in Sport) that he must pay compensation to the Premier League club.

Mutu had appealed to the CAS against FIFA's decision to award Chelsea compensation following his sacking because he breached his contract.

The CAS upheld FIFA's decision last year, leaving Mutu to appeal to the Swiss court. However, their decision this morning means he will have to pay the English club.

A statement from the court reads:

"It reached the conclusion that this was not the case and the Romanian footballer's appeal was unfounded."

The Associated Press claims the striker has been ordered to pay €17,173,990 plus an annual interest of five percent applied from 2008. He will also have to pay the legal fees of €104,000.

Mutu is currently banned following a double doping test failure in January. Last week Fiorentina confirmed he was for sale.

Hamburg To Challenge Manchester United For Ballack

Following reports yesterday that Manchester United will offer Michael Ballack a one-year contract, German daily Bild claims that Hamburg are doing all that they can to lure the 33-year-old.

The Germany captain was released last week by Chelsea after four years at Stamford Bridge. Ballack had rejected a 12-month extension to his Chelsea contract, wanting a two-year deal instead.

Newspaper reports in the UK yesterday speculated that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would look to bring Ballack to Old Trafford for an initial year, with the option of an extension.

However, Bild claims that Hamburg have set their sights on Ballack. The club has apparently enlisted the help of billionaire supporter Klaus-Michael Kuehne, who currently lives in Switzerland, to fund the deal.

Ballack himself has refused to express a preference for Manchester United, Hamburg or any other club, telling Bild, "I have some offers… and will sort the requests in the coming week."

Ballack scored four goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea last season, but was ruled out of the World Cup having suffered an ankle injury during the FA Cup final.

Yossi Benayoun Set For Chelsea Move

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is close to quitting Anfield in favour of joining Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 30-year-old Israeli winger has been holding talks over a £6million switch to Stamford Bridge with Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Benayoun — who scored six goals in 30 games for the Reds last season — is expected to move to west London on a four-year deal.

Last month, the former West Ham star said: "Ancelotti wants me for next season and now everything depends on Liverpool.

"Chelsea will have to pay some £6million but I believe that in the end I'll be moving there."

Chelsea Chase £16m Brazilian Striker

Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly interested in signing Brazilian striker Nilmar and is ready to make a move for the Villarreal man this summer as he looks to bring in new attacking options as long term replacements for ageing strike duo Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

25 year old Nilmar moved to the La Liga last summer and has a decent first season at Villarreal but the Castellon side may feel the need to sell after failing to secure European football for next term. The former Lyon man is sure to be interested in a move to the Premier League champions and could feel that a move is necessary in order to further his career progression and to help force his way into the Brazilian international starting eleven.

Roman Abramovich is happy to invest in squad improvements and after removing big earners Joe Cole and Michael Ballack from the wage bill the west London club can surely afford to bring in younger players to help balance out a rapidly ageing squad.

Joe Cole Highest Paid At The Emirates

Joe Cole will be offered a massive £135,000-a-week deal with Arsenal once he returns from World Cup duty with England.

Arsene Wenger has put together a whopping financial package that would make the former Chelsea star the highest-paid player at The Emirates.

We can reveal that Cole, 28, has only to sign on a free transfer and agree a four-year package worth £20million.

The deal works out at £4m a year plus an additional £2.5m a year in signing on fees.

That is what will boost his earnings to the whopping weekly wage that would take him past wantaway Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas – on £110,000 a week – as the biggest earner at the club.

The offer is sure to wreck Harry Redknapp’s bid to try to land Cole, with Tottenham unable to match the big money Arsenal are prepared to pay.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool were also said to be in the frame but it is the Gunners who will get their man, as the Daily Star Sunday revealed two weeks ago.

Cole suffered a serious injury last year and when he returned from the treatment table he did not figure as much as he would have liked in Carlo Ancelotti’s sides. And the Stamford Bridge boss refused to meet Cole’s wage demands of £120,000 a week to bring him in line with Frank Lampard and John Terry.

Cole scored the decisive goal of Chelsea’s Premier League title success against rivals United at Old Trafford in April.

And he made 26 top-flight Blues appearances but only started 14. He clearly did not do enough for Ancelotti to warrant a huge pay hike.

Now speculation is rife that Cole’s arrival in north London could help Fabregas, 23, in his wish to rejoin boyhood idols Barcelona, although Wenger wants to keep the Spaniard.

A source revealed: “The offer is on the table and has been agreed in principle by both parties.

“The only way Joe won’t go to Arsenal is if he suffers an injury during the World Cup or another club comes in with an improved offer late on.

“Arsene is mindful that Joe spent a long time out with a serious knee injury but if he comes through England’s campaign in South Africa then he knows he is completely over that.

“What he likes about Joe is his versatility. It could be argued that his arrival might take the pain out of losing Fabregas to Barcelona. That and around £45m, which is what they’ll have to spend to get him.”

Chelsea Defender Branislav Ivanovic Insists Serbia Can Bounce Back

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic believes Serbia can recover from their World Cup opening 1-0 defeat against Ghana on Sunday and stun Germany in the next game.

Asamoah Gyan's 84th-minute penalty settled the match in favour of the Black Stars after Serbia had been reduced to 10 men when Aleksandar Lukovic picked up a second booking.

Serbia now face an uphill battle to make it through to the last 16 and they face a real fight on their hands in their next Group D outing against Germany, who thrashed Australia 4-0, on Friday.

Ivanovic conceded it was a major blow to lose their opening match but is optimistic his side can turn things around ahead of the clash against the Germans in Port Elizabeth.

He said: 'When you lose it's very difficult, we were playing our first game of the World Cup against a very strong team and we lost, but we have the power to recover after this game and prepare well for the next game.'

Ivanovic also still has faith his side can secure one of the top two berths in Group D and a place in the knockout stages.

'We have to think like that. We are here out at the World Cup to show how anything is possible. Germany, of course, are a very strong team so we have to show that we can play against the big teams.'

Deco Keen To Take On Drogba

Portugal midfielder Deco is hoping for a World Cup reunion with Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Ivory Coast striker Drogba is facing a race against time to recover from the broken arm he suffered in the run-up to the finals, and the Africans are playing their cards close to their chest ahead of the Group G clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

However, while many of his compatriots could be forgiven for hoping that the former Marseille hitman misses out, Deco will be happy to lock horns with him.

"I haven't spoken to Didier and I don't now if he is going to play tomorrow, but I hope so because he is a friend," said Deco.

"He is a good player. He's a friend of mine and a Chelsea player. If he plays, it will be good for the game. I hope he plays."

There were initial fears that Drogba's tournament could be over before it had begun when he first sustained the injury during the Ivory Coast's warm-up game against Japan in Switzerland on June 4.

But, following successful surgery, there is a growing belief that he could yet have a significant role to play in South Africa, and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has been in the game too long to be surprised if his name appears on the teamsheet tomorrow afternoon.

Queiroz said: "What is important for me as the coach of the Portuguese national team is to worry about my own players.

"Obviously, I'm not a doctor, so I can't sat if Didier Drogba is going to be playing. It is a fracture and the doctors from the Ivory Coast together with [coach] Mr [Sven-Goran] Eriksson will have to make that decision.

"But, after 30 years in football, there's nothing that surprises me. Whether he plays or not, nothing would surprise me."

The Portugal squad flew into Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg this afternoon and headed straight to the stadium to train, but they did so with Manchester United midfielder Nani back in Lisbon nursing a shoulder injury.

He has been quoted as saying he could be fit again within a week, sparking rumours that his departure from South Africa was for reasons other than his fitness.

They have been firmly denied by the Portuguese camp, though, and Queiroz was not being drawn into the debate today.

He said: "Tomorrow, we are going to be playing the Ivory Coast in our first game in the World Cup.

"If Nani is ready in four days, that's wonderful, but the most important thing is for us to focus on our goal tomorrow.

"So, with all due respect to Nani, that is what we are focusing on.

"We can talk about that [the Nani situation] later."

On that subject, Deco admitted he and his team-mates were in the dark.

He said: "What I heard was that he [Nani] broke his shoulder and that it would be difficult for him to be ready to play because the recuperation time would be quite long.

"As players, we don't really have that kind of information. We speak to Nani and it's obvious that any player who is out feels a lot of frustration and in his case, I am sure he's feeling that way.

"He was hoping to have played and he still hopes to be able to play."

Portugal have been drawn into a tough group with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, and Queiroz knows there will be a major fight for the two available berths in the last 16.

He said: "With all due respect to North Korea, there are three teams for two places.

"We could be the best three teams at the World Cup, but the regulations only allow two to go forward.

"What is important is that we win tomorrow. A World Cup is something that doesn't allow you to make mistakes, so from the beginning, we want to get the three points.

"But we have nine points to play for and the first three points are as important as the last."

Summary Of A Season: Didier Drogba

From the moment his two-goal salvo turned a deficit into victory on the opening day versus Hull, the signs were good that Didier Drogba could pick up where he left off the previous season when a drifting Chelsea career was set firmly back on course under Guus Hiddink.

The early season formation adopted by the Dutchman's successor, Carlo Ancelotti, allowed Drogba to play close to Nicolas Anelka, and he had previously expressed a preference for a strike partner. At Fulham in the second away game each set up the other for a goal in a 2-0 win.

Then at Stoke the tried and tested link up with Frank Lampard was in full working order as Drogba latched onto the midfielder's clever pass and sent a truly unstoppable left-footed drive into the far corner.

The striker was now locked into an incredibly consistent run of scoring. By Christmas he had found the net 18 times in 21 games with only seven blank matches among them.

At Wigan he scored his 100th Chelsea goal on his 225th appearance although it was also the season's first defeat. Drogba described it as the worst performance since he'd joined in 2004. He had a point.

His Champions League campaign began in a familiar fashion - with a suspension - but when he did kick-off in Europe, he looked to have turned around a match in Madrid with two goals until Atletico's Sergio Aguero struck for a second time on the night.

In late November our Number 11 was an accessory to what many marked down as the most deluded moment of the season - Arsene Wenger declaring 'Drogba didn't do much' following Chelsea's 3-0 defeat of Arsenal - our best result at their stadium since the previous visit there!

The Gunners' manager did commend the player's efficiency, which included opening the scoring, pressuring one of his defenders into an own goal and then rifling in a free-kick.

All was going well at the point and the team had a clear lead in the league table but there followed a December downturn in results before Drogba signed off for a month of international duty with a goal at home to Fulham.

Against the predictions of the doom merchants, Chelsea flourished in the absence of our Africans although the fixtures could have been tougher. Ivory Coast didn't flourish in Angola and it cost their manager his job.

On his early return to club duty at Hull, Drogba scored his third direct free-kick of the season but the result was a disappointing draw following five straight wins. The first murmured questions began. Did Carlo Ancelotti have a conundrum to think about? Does the team actually play better without their most potent attacker?

There was no doubting he was to be first on the team sheet for the next game - Arsenal at home - and he duly landed another double whammy on the north Londoners. The second goal was Drogba at his rampaging best and made it 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal.

Results were up and down in February and March. Drogba went three games without scoring which was a close as he came to a barren spell in 2009/10. Anelka's goals following a healthy December and January, had dried up completely.

As Champions League ambition faded once again, Drogba was sent off near the end of defeat by Inter, maintaining his now nearly traditional ban for the start of the next Euro campaign. It was his one red card of the season.

Having scored two at Portsmouth a week later, Drogba was rested for a visit by Villa which Chelsea won 7-1. It was the game before a potentially season-defining match at Old Trafford, and in the days in between he suffered injury and missed some training.

Recovered sufficiently to make the journey, the manager decided to use his top scorer as a second-half substitute and reaped the reward. A good team performance throughout was capped by what proved to be a Drogba winner.

By now, and like so many previous seasons, back in the middle of a three-man attack, the lacklustre display at Spurs was happily a blip in the season's run-in.

The high-scoring victories (of which there were a few) had strangely been by achieved by a Drogba-less team line-up, but that was remedied when he was part of a 7-0 win over Stoke , even if he didn't make the score sheet that day.

A Steven Gerrard assist at Liverpool put Chelsea on the threshold of the league title and Drogba poised to snatch the Golden Boot out of the grasp of Wayne Rooney.

An historic 8-0 win and a second-half hat-trick was the way to do it, even if the first 45 minutes did contain a moment of anxiety about his personal tally for our centre-forward.

His winner in the FA Cup Final meant the season had a pair of Ivorian bookends - a Drogba goal at its start and at its finish.

Voted Player of the Year by the fans, Drogba's 37 goals is the second best total in Chelsea history and included strikes at Anfield, the Emirates and Old Trafford. He also notched his sixth goal in six Wembley finals and seventh in all cup finals - a club record.

Now aged 32 and with (if his broken arm allows) a World Cup campaign this summer, there will be people doubting Drogba has another season in him like the trophy and goal-laden one just past.

Marcel Desailly Tells Ancelotti To Buy Big

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has urged manager Carlo Ancelotti to buy a big name to ensure they stay at the top.

“If they don’t, then I will worry about them,” he said.

The French World Cup winner warned the Blues not to rest on their laurels after last season’s Double triumph.

He claims it’s more important a five-star player arrives now they’ve lost Joe Cole, although he was not surprised when Chelsea released veteran Michael Ballack.

Desailly, 41, won the World and European Cups, and two Champions League trophies before joining Chelsea in 1998, playing 159 league games for the Blues.

He said: “The next Chelsea signing will be so important. When I was at AC Milan we won the title and the Champions League.

“We thought we were untouchable, maybe even thinking it was easy. Yet they went out and signed George Weah, then the best player in the world. ‘Pow!’ It hit us. Here we thought we couldn’t get better then he arrived and we were up and running again. He lifted us from our settees.

“The club needed it, I needed it. We felt strong once more, ready to go forward.

“The following year five Dutchmen arrived, top names but somehow it didn’t work in the same way as Weah.

“So that is why Chelsea’s next signing must be a significant one. A world-class player, no matter what the cost.

“You can’t fight off age, so some need a boost. It must come in the way of a Weah.”

Mourinho Has No Intention Of Selling Kaka To Chelsea

New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is not looking to offload Brazilian star Kaka to Chelsea and instead is convinced that he can bring the best out of the 28-year-old.

Kaka struggled at Real Madrid last season, following his £56million switch from AC Milan last summer. A troublesome thigh injury limited Kaka’s chances at the Bernebeu.

There has been speculation that Kaka would welcome a reunion with his former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, having failed to make an impact at Real Madrid. Under Ancelotti, Kaka enjoyed a highly successful spell at the San Siro, becoming one of the world's top players. It has been reported that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has sanctioned a £50million bid for Kaka.

However, Spanish daily Marca reports this morning that Mourinho has instructed Bernabeu officials not to listen to any offers for the Brazilian and that the 'special one' is convinced that he can return Kaka to his best form.

Marca quotes Mourinho saying, "Kaka has lost esteem in recent months, but there will be no problem returning him to his best. A player needs to have a high level of confidence."

Chelsea Leading Manchester City In Chase For Silva

According to this morning's News of the World, Chelsea have edged ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign Valencia's David Silva.

Silva has been at Valencia for almost his entire career and has established himself as one of Spain's top players. In 2009/2010, the 24-year-old scored nine goals and provided ten assists in 38 appearances for financially stricken Valencia. With six goals in 33 internationals, Silva is expected to star for Spain during the World Cup.

Valencia recently sold David Villa to Barcelona for £40million, but the cash-strapped club need to offload further stars and Silva is expected to fetch a price of at least £20million.

Although Manchester City are apparently able to offer Silva a bigger salary than Chelsea, Silva is more interested in signing for Chelsea, who can offer him Champions League football next season.

Silva's agent, Amadeo Rengel said, "The option of Chelsea is the most interesting in terms of the sporting project."

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is keen to add top names to his squad, which would show the ambition of the club, despite the failure to secure Champions League football last season.

Meanwhile, Valencia president Manuel Llorente has refused to rule out a move for Silva to any club, saying candidly, "We have received calls about Silva but no concrete offers.

"Right now nothing is out of the question because we need to safeguard the future of the club."

Serbia And Chelsea Defender Branislav Ivanovic Admits To Nerves

Chelsea full back Branislav Ivanovic has admitted that nerves are playing a big part in Serbia’s training camp ahead of their opening game of the world cup against Ghana.

Speaking about the mood among the players as the nation prepares itself for their first world cup as an independent country, Ivanovic said: "It's the normal thing, we're feeling a little bit nervous before the start of the World Cup because for every player it's very important to play at the World Cup.

"We're feeling nervous but we're positive and I think we're ready."

Talking at a press conference, Ivanovic continued by saying it is a major plus for his side that they will not be lining up against Blues team-mate Michael Essien in the Group D game.

"Mike [Michael Essien] is a fantastic player, and it's very difficult for him because he has two big injuries and he cannot take a risk but for us it's good of course that he can't play. For me I think he's one of the best midfielders in the world."

Essien was ruled out of the tournament after failing to recover from knee and ankle injuries that have seen him not play competitive football since December.

Serbia finished above 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France as they finished top of group seven in the qualifying for the world cup, collecting 22 points and only conceding 8 goals in the process.

Frank Lampard And Steven Gerrard Prove They Can Play Together

Too similar, some will say. They get in each other’s way. It has to be one or the other for the sake of the team.

During the World Cup qualifying period, the issue died down because Fabio Capello kept them apart by using Gerrard on the left and Lampard in more of a holding role in central midfield. All was fine and dandy.

It was different on Saturday night against USA though. The Liverpool and Chelsea boys were paired again, slap bang in the middle of a four-man midfield. Would they work things out for this crucial opening game?

Well, it took only four minutes to get some kind of an answer, that’s if creating a goal counts in any way. Both were involved. First, Lampard received Glen Johnson’s throw-in about 30 yards from goal before trying to find Wayne Rooney.

The effort didn’t find its target and Lampard was arguably fouled as he released the ball but, fortunately for England, his attempted pass ran through to Emile Heskey who, for all the criticism he has received down the years, knew exactly what to do with his first-time lay-off. It was perfect and justified Capello’s decision to start him.

And here comes the main point. Gerrard had made one of his trademark forward runs that we all know so well. The perfectly timed sort that cuts through a rearguard into the penalty box.

Not only that, he made that run because he was working off Lampard. His partner, admittedly, was in a fairly advanced position, but it wasn’t far enough forward to discourage England’s captain.

One touch to set it, the second to clinically finish. After only four minutes, Gerrard had made a convincing argument for the possible efficiency of this partnership.

More promising still, Gerrard went on to enjoy a fantastic first half, tearing about like a man on a mission, which, of course, he was.

Bombing forward, tackling back, while Lampard, in the main, played a more conservative role by holding his position, only venturing forward at the right time.

That’s all it took - a bit of common sense.

As for whether this axis will continue into the next game against Algeria on Friday, well, you have to doubt it.

When push comes to shove, Capello prefers a more conservative style in that area. Gareth Barry is likely to return and resume his previously successful partnership with Lampard.

Still, it was good while it lasted. That is until Robert Green’s dreadful howler five minutes before half-time changed everything.

Apart from perhaps closing down Clint Dempsey quicker, there was nothing either Gerrard or Lampard could do about that.