Michael Ballack Considering Legal Action Against Kevin-Prince Boateng

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng might have offered his apologies to Chelsea's Michael Ballack for his reckless challenge during the FA Cup final, but that's clearly not enough to satisfy Michael Becker, the German international's agent.

"Every spectator has seen what Boateng did. That was clearly a foul with the intention to hurt Ballack. We are considering taking legal action," said Becker to Bild.

"We are thinking about taking the case to civil court, but criminal punishment is also an option. You can't just intentionally break the rules to hurt your opponent. It's not like a football field is a place where the law doesn't count, unlike what Boateng thinks."

Ballack's agent claims that the influential midfielder could miss out on about €1 million on income from sponsors and bonuses due to his two-month absence as a result of Boateng's reckless tackle.

Lampard: Negatives Into Positives

Frank Lampard believes our exit from the Champions League could have been the turning point for our Double-winning season.

After Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge left the Blues without a place in Europe, many insisted the side would finish the campaign trophy-less.

But Lampard feels it was the ignition to our season's final few months, as we knuckled down in the business end of the campaign.

'Looking back at that moment, it is probably one of those negatives you turn into a positive,' explained Lampard.

'Maybe if we hadn't lost that game we wouldn't have gone on to win the League.

'And we set the bench mark doing it. We won the League and having not done it for three years now we want to go away, come back and do it again.'

With the Double achieved, there was another point Lampard was keen to make as he looked back on such a successful season.

Carlo Ancelotti's first foray into English football has produced phenomenal results, which are now for all to see in our trophy cabinet.

Any manager who produces such an historic outcome during his first season at a club will obviously be revered and respected in their profession.

But the Italian was overlooked for Manager of the Year, an accolade that instead fell to Harry Redknapp, another manager who moved to a new club but one who had years of experience in the Barclays Premier League.

Lampard feels the situation could have been different: 'People always say Chelsea is a great squad with great players and they expect us to do well.

'That's why the likes of Harry Redknapp win Manager of the Year because people don't quite expect them to do so well but you can't take anything away from Ancelotti what he has done.

'He's up there with the best of the year. He has come here, to a foreign country, he came virtually alone, with only one person from Italy and he has done all this.

'You have to hold your hands up and say it's a success and a job well done. No one can question what we've done this year.'

Now the challenge is for a Chelsea side, who will have seen many of our stars out on international duty during the World Cup, to return fully vitalised for the 2010/11 campaign.

'You want to embrace what you have done at the club and you want to start again,' said Lampard.

'The players have to come back energised, with the same mentality, want to win again, and that's what separates the great teams from the good teams.'

But for now Lampard and his England teammates are concentrating solely on the world's biggest competition in South Africa this summer. And after such a fantastic run-in with the Blues over the last couple of months, Lampard is ready for anything.

'I feel fresh, I feel confident and in the last few months, with the team I am playing with, I have been creating a lot of chances.

'I am seeing a lot of spaces at the moment and I am not scared to take things on, so let's just hope it carries on for the next month or so.

'The goals have been coming thick and fast and I feel very confident, so I will take that mindset into the World Cup.

'Then there's Ashley Cole, who has been out but he's back and firing, John Terry is John Terry, determined to play well, and hopefully Joe Cole's lack of minutes will be a good thing because he will be fresh.'

Carlo Ancelotti Eyes 10-Year Stay At Chelsea

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti last night praised his side’s Double glory and told supporters he intends to stay for a decade.

The Italian boss spent eight years at AC Milan, and has now stated he plans to better that at Stamford Bridge. In his first season in England, he lifted the Premier League and FA Cup double for the first time in Chelsea's history.

Speaking to reporters, Ancelotti said: "I would be happy to sign a new contract here.

“After this first season if they asked me how long I want to stay here I would say maybe 10 years. That wouldn’t be bad, especially if every season is like this season.

“I think stability is important. If we can work together for a long time it’s better to have stability for the club.

“It’s also important for the manager, because it’s not easy if you’re changing club every year.”

During Roman Abramovich's time in charge at Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink have all bossed the club.

New chief executive Ron Gourlay has admitted the Blues want to see an end to the managerial revolving doors. There are currently no plans to offer Ancelotti a new contract just 12 months into his three-year deal, however.

John Terry Keen For Joe Cole To Stay At Stamford Bridge Next Season

Chelsea captain John Terry has urged the club to extend midfielder Joe Cole’s contract beyond the end of this season.

The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and looks set to leave the club on a free transfer, with Manchester United and Manchester City rumoured to be interested in the England international.

Cole refused to comment on his future after Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final win over Portsmouth, but Terry insists everybody at Stamford Bridge wants him to stay.

"Nobody wants Joe Cole to leave, we all want him to stay and we're confident he will do," Terry told Sky Sports.

Chelsea’s FA Cup final win secured the club’s first ever double, having already won the Premier League, and Terry is delighted to have made history this season.

He added: "[The Champions League] is the one that's eluded us in the last few years so that's the big target.

"We know that Roman [Abramovich] wants that, we know the players want that. This is just a taste of that, if we won that it would put us right up there with the greats.

"But we said yesterday in the dressing room, we'll take the double over the Champions League all day long.

"It's never been done in the club's history and we're so proud that this group of players, for generations and generations, is never going to be forgotten."

Michael Ballack Waits On Chelsea Talks About New Contract

Michael Ballack has admitted no talks are planned with Chelsea to sign a new contract, although he believes Carlo Ancelotti wants to keep him at the club.

The German international's deal expires at the end of June and discussions over an extension had been delayed until the season was over. Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 has been linked with a free transfer swoop for him.

Ballack joined from Bayern Munich in 2006 and lifted his first Premier League title this month. Speaking to reporters, the midfielder said he believed Ancelotti was keen to re-sign him but wasn't sure of the rest of the Blues hierarchy’s intentions.

"There are no plans for talks yet, but I want to play for as long as possible at the highest level," said Ballack.

"I feel fit and I have targets in my mind - maybe two years [more]. But we have to wait and see.

"Chelsea is one of my first options, of course. I know he (Ancelotti) wants to keep me.

"I have a great relationship with him and he is really confident in me and my ability.

"But sometimes the club and the coach can have different ideas, I don't know. But it's time to talk about [it]."

Malouda - Anelka Keen To Stay

Florent Malouda believes Nicolas Anelka would have no hesitation in signing a new contract at Chelsea.

The French forward is yet to pen an extension to his current terms, fuelling speculation that he could be on the move this summer.

The 31-year-old has spent the last two seasons at Stamford Bridge, helping the Blues to two FA Cup triumphs and a Premier League title.

Chelsea insist they are keen to keep Anelka on board and talks regarding a new contract remain ongoing.

Malouda feels it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached, with the tricky winger of the opinion that his fellow countryman has no desire to move on.

"I know that he wishes to stay and extend his contract," said Malouda.

"Now it's just a straight discussion between him and the club but I know there have been discussions between them.

"Things are very good for him. During the transfer window there is always speculation but there is no doubt."

Malouda sees no reason why any player would want to leave Chelsea right now, with the Blues having wrapped up a domestic Double on Saturday when they edged out Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

The aim now is to build on that success next season, with a first UEFA Champions League crown towards the top of their list of priorities.

"In a team like Chelsea you want to win everything," said Malouda.

"Our ambition has to grow and we have to be regularly on top of the league. If you stay too relaxed that's when you start to fall down.

"We will come back with more appetite and next year we should try to add something.

"We have the quality to do that, you just have to see the amount of goals we scored, but we may have to be more consistent. There were moments where we dropped points.

"I don't know how many changes are required, that's not my role. The manager has a lot of experience and knows what was missing from us this season and what will bring something more."

Real Madrid Warned Off Lampard

Real Madrid have been warned off trying to sign Frank Lampard by Carlo Ancelotti, according to reports in today's papers.

The Chelsea star is known to be a favourite of former Blues boss Jose Mourinho who is widely expected to take over as Real boss this summer.

Mourinho is rumoured to have told Real president Florentino Perez to bring Lampard to the Bernabeu ready for next season.

But Stamford Bridge boss Ancelotti has laughed off the rumours. He said: "Lampard to Real Madrid? This is a joke because Lampard will stay here.

"When I started last season there was a problem with John Terry and Manchester City.

"Every time I said 'no, John Terry will stay here because he is important'.

"I don't want to do the same with Frank Lampard. He will stay here.

"There is no danger of Frank going because I know how he feels about this club, with these players, how important he is for the supporters."

John Terry Targets The Treble Next Season

John Terry has set his sights on winning the treble next season - after taking a massive swipe at the Wembley pitch.

Terry says Chelsea will be determined to win the Champions League as well as repeating this season's Premier League and FA Cup Double next year.

But Terry slammed the Wembley pitch and says it must be improved as next year's Champions League final will be played there as he also urged the Football Association to stop holding concerts and start putting football first.

Chelsea captain Terry said: "The Champions League next year is here - that would be a great way to end the year. I only hope the pitch is all right - at least they have got enough time.

"It probably ruined the game as a spectacle. It is not the groundsman's fault - there are just too many events on the field of play. The FA need to say either this is England's football stadium or its an event stadium.

"Portsmouth and ourselves have worked so hard to get here and it was not good enough. There was no water on the surface, which both teams asked for, before the game. It was patchy. It was dry and it was probably too slow for the people watching.

"Now we come back here with England and we want home advantage to count. It needs to be addressed and I am sure it will be."

Mirror Sport revealed on Saturday both teams were unhappy at the state of the pitch after their training session at Wembley the day before.

But Chelsea overcame the problems with the pitch to win the FA Cup and repeat their first ever double - and Terry has immediately insisted that is the bare minimum they want to achieve next season.

Terry firmly believes Carlo Ancelotti can sweep the board next season and win the lot and also says their momentum can help England go into the World Cup full of confidence.

Terry added: "The Double really does put us up there as a football club. There is no doubt about it - everybody knows the importance of the Champions League.

"It is something we want. But if you had offered me the Double at the start of the season, I would have bitten your hand off.

"It is hard to set new targets - the minimum next year now is the Premier League and the FA Cup. If we can add the Champions League to that and the Carling Cup, it would be great.

"But the minimum is the Premier League and the FA Cup. Everyone is saying that, including the manager. These are our trophies and we want to keep them.

"We have had a taste of winning the FA Cup and the Premier League and not been able to retain it and get our hands back on it the following season. Now it would be a great way to end next year as well.

"It would great if we could carry this momentum into the England camp. We are on a high. We are buzzing. We are fit.

"We have got a couple of days off but we go there and look forward to training and getting back on the training field for the World Cup."

Chelsea Eye Ashley Cole Swap Deal For Kaka

Real Madrid may be tempted into loaning Kaka to Chelsea - only if Ashley Cole goes the other way.

According to ItalPress, the Spanish giants may be warming to the idea of off-loading their £56million star if they can secure a player in return, and with a left-back high on their radar, Cole would be the obvious make-weight in any deal.

The 29-year-old may also feel like it’s the right time to join the Galactico ranks, after personal problems and media scandal have dogged his last season with the Blues.

However, it's unlikely that Carlo Ancelotti will want to enter into any kind of deal involving his full-back, and will likely try a straight-cash swoop in a bid to lure the Brazilian international.

Chelsea Set To Make Record Bid For Torres

Fernando Torres will be the subject of a world record bid from Chelsea within days.

The total package of transfer fee and salary will make Torres a staggering £130 million investment. And Soccernet has been informed that owner Roman Abramovich is personally taking control of the project to bring the Liverpool striker to Chelsea.

Torres has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid for some time but the Blues will be first to make a concrete offer.

Abramovich is ready to release the cash following a Premier League and FA Cup double this season, but he is also acutely aware he could cut an alternative deal with Liverpool in need of new players.

Chelsea are willing to offer three players in part exchange, as an option to smooth through the Torres transfer.

Abramovich is also prepared to match City's expected offer to Torres of £200,000-a-week, which is being mooted via the middle men now authorized to try and clinch the deal.

An insider told Soccernet: "Torres is the best, and Roman wants the best. He has identified Torres as the player who can help him bring the Champions League to Stamford Bridge.

"Torres can go to City for just as much money perhaps even more, but it's clear that Chelsea offer far more in terms of a crack at the Champions League whereas City aren't even in it."

Chelsea are drawing up a list of players to offer to Liverpool in part exchange for Torres that could take the overall transfer value above the £80 million world record Real Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The deal could be structured like this; pick any three players from a specified list plus £40 million cash up front for Torres. That offer, according to Soccernet sources, will be made well ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa, and most likely early next week.

With the three players averaging around £15 million each, the total valuation of the Torres offer would be in excess of the Ronaldo fee.

Abramovich is personally spearheading the quest to land Torres, and his manager Carlo Ancelotti will consider which players to use as bait to tempt Liverpool: Jose Bosingwa, Nicolas Anelka, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira.

Anelka is the one player the Italian coach might be reluctant to offer up and, of course, the Frenchman might not wish to return to Anfield - although he has expressed regret at failing to win a permanent move to the club after spending a loan spell on Merseyside.

Manchester City are also in a position to offer Liverpool a shopping list of swap players, as well as a cash payment in excess of Chelsea's, but the prospect of joining the Double winners and a club intent on landing the Champions League would be far more appealing.

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are battling with losses of £54.9 million, a net debt of £351 million, no Champions League football and with new chairman Martin Broughton an appointee of the club's bank RBS, a £40 million cash-plus-players bid for their star asset will clearly be accepted.

Ironically, Broughton is a Chelsea season ticket holder, and any decision to sell would inevitably make him unpopular at Anfield.

Such is the ground work being prepared at the Bridge for the Torres bid, that star striker Didier Drogba is already ready to welcome him to the club.

"Of course I would welcome Torres," Drogba said last week. "Every time a new player comes here, it makes the club bigger and gives us a lot of strength. If there is a chance for him to come here, he will be welcome, because any help is welcome.''

Former Chelsea Defender Graeme Le Saux Praises Double-winning Manager Carlo Ancelotti

Former Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux has hailed the management style of Carlo Ancelotti after leading the Blues to the double in his first season at the club.

Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final win over Portsmouth on Saturday secured the Blues’ first league and cup double in their history, after they pipped Manchester United to the Premier League title for the first time in four years a week earlier.

After starting the season playing a diamond formation, Ancelotti reverted back to 4-3-3 midway through the campaign and Le Saux, who is now a club ambassador, believes the way the Italian allows his players to play with freedom is the key to his success.

"While money has a huge influence on who you can buy and what infrastructure you can put in, ultimately you still have to have the right leader, right attitude from the players and right values within the dressing room," Le Saux told the Press Association.

"There was a lot of uncertainty since Jose Mourinho left, and from that point of view, Ancelotti has come in and really got the spirit right.

"Dealing with all of those individual characters is hard; to get them all to play for the common good is a tough job.

"To do that in his first year and to win the first double in the club's history is a huge achievement.

"Having spent time around the players and the training ground, seeing how they are with him and his staff, there is a really relaxed, but focused attitude.

"There is calmness about him, he is very assured as a coach.

"The players feel like they have a freedom to express themselves and that is what players and the fans want."

Chelsea Defender Ashley Cole Becomes The Most Decorated Player In FA Cup History After Winning Tournament For A Record Sixth Time

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole ended a tumultuous season by becoming the most victorious player in the history of the FA Cup after the Blues defeated Portsmouth in the final on Saturday.

Less than a week after clinching the Premier League title, Chelsea completed the Double after a 1-0 win over Pompey at Wembley.

Cole became the first player in the 120 years in which the FA Cup has been played to lift the trophy six times.

The England international has had a tough time on and off the pitch this season, splitting with wife Cheryl Cole and missing some time with a broken ankle.

Fellow defender John Terry hailed Cole’s contribution this season and believes that the left-back is a crucial player for both Chelsea and England.

“His record in the Cup is incredible and he has been unbelievable this year,” Terry told the Daily Mail.

“Ashley was unfortunate with his injury and was probably our best player before that. He has come back as fit as ever and raring to go, which is a massive boost for us and England.”

Cole has played in seven Cup finals with the Blues and Arsenal and his sixth FA Cup win helped him move ahead of Charles Wollaston, Arthur Kinnaird and James Forrest as the most successful player in the history of the tournament.

Didier Drogba Hails Best Chelsea Season After Clinching FA Cup

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has declared this season to be his best at the club after his side lifted the FA Cup, defeating Portsmouth 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

The Golden Boot winner expressed his desire to continue winning silverware with Chelsea in the future and believes this season was the best of his career.

"Yeah this is the best one because we achieved so many things together as a team and after that trophies came, but really it is because as a team we were so good, I had a chance to be Golden Boot, to play well like I am," Drogba told Sky Sports News.

"It's something very important for the team and me as well, today I have the chance again to score in that stadium again and I'm really happy because we won the double and this is something big in England and I'm happy to be a part of it.

"To be the first team to have done that for Chelsea is unbelievable.

"We knew it was going to be hard, we don't really think all the chances we created would hit the post or the crossbar but that's part of the game - we knew it was going to be hard."

Drogba also joined the queue of managers and players who voiced their dissatisfaction with the Wembley pitch.

He added: "Without water on the pitch I think it was difficult. The pitch was dry and to be honest I think it was better against Aston Villa."

The Ivory Coast international echoed the sentiments of his Chelsea team-mates John Terry and Frank Lampard in suggesting domestic success is the perfect preparation for the World Cup.

He continued: "It's the best way to go to the World Cup and be confident and work hard - you know it's better to work with a big smile on the face than to be down, and I'm happy to go there."

Buck: Abramovich Going Nowhere

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck today insisted that Roman Abramovich will remain at Chelsea "indefinitely".

The London club completed a league and cup double on Saturday thanks to Didier Drogba's goal in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley.

Buck told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek program that the Chelsea owner was committed to the club.

"He was a very happy man on Saturday night," he said. "I see him here indefinitely. He has never, ever given us any indication that he is anything other than a long term Chelsea fan."

According to Buck, any suggestions that Abramovich would sell Chelsea are "totally inaccurate" and "not something that goes through his head".

Buck also revealed that three or four players would be leaving the club in the summer, with three or four new signings to replace them.

He would not be drawn on specific players who could leave the club, such as Joe Cole. But he said the goals and targets were to "keep winning trophies in an efficient business-like manner".

Chelsea Midfielder Ballack Limps Out Of Final A Month Before World Cup

Chelsea’s Michael Ballack limped out of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley, less than a month before the World Cup.

The 33-year-old was upended by a late tackle from Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, who was booked on 35 minutes.

Germany captain Ballack managed to play on for a few minutes after receiving treatment but was then replaced by Juliano Belletti. Chelsea went on to win the game 1-0 through Didier Drogba’s free-kick.

Germany open their World Cup campaign against Australia on 13 June.

Ballack, who has won 98 international caps, was named in Germany's preliminary squad on 7 May.

He is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season and could perhaps have played his last game for the club. German club Schalke have already stated their interest in signing Ballack.

Roman Rewards Ancelotti With Funds For Kaka

Roman Abramovich will reward Double-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti by backing a sensational move for Kaka.

Ancelotti is a huge admirer of the Brazilian, who last year turned down a move to Manchester City.

Instead, Kaka headed to Real Madrid in a £56million switch from AC Milan but his first season in La Liga has been a troubled one.

He has been dogged by injury and has had to angrily deny rumours that he was more concerned about being fit for the World Cup than for Real Madrid's domestic campaign.

Should Real not leapfrog above Barcelona in the last round of fixtures today - and that looks hugely unlikely - they will end the season trophyless.

And that will lead to yet more major upheaval at the Bernabeu with Jose Mourinho almost certain to replace Manuel Pellegrini and bring with him a long list of transfer targets.

That air of uncertainty is a factor that will give Ancelotti encouragement in a pursuit of Kaka.

The pair had a very successful, six-year relationship and won the Champions League together in 2007.

And as he feels the heat in the pressure-cooker atmosphere that surrounds everything at Real, Kaka could be tempted to work with Ancelotti again in the relatively tranquil surroundings at Stamford Bridge.

While Cristiano Ronaldo has been a success, Kaka has only appeared sporadically - mainly due to a troublesome thigh injury.

There is a growing suspicion there might not be room for both galacticos in Madrid.

Kaka is only one season into a six-year deal that is worth around £170,000 to the former World Player of the Year.

The wage issue would not be a problem for Abramovich and Chelsea but they might baulk at giving Real anywhere near the £56million the Spanish club handed over to Milan.

In two or three years' time, Kaka's sell-on value will be greatly reduced and Chelsea would probably be willing to go up only to around the £40million mark.

Cheekily, they might even propose some type of loan deal, where they pay Real rent for the player and his extravagant wages.

Abramovich has sanctioned a belt-tightening exercise at the Bridge and that might be reflected in upcoming contract negotiations with the likes of Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka.

And the Russian owner is hopeful that talent from the academy will push through in the next couple of seasons.

But after the outstanding domestic season, he still wants Chelsea to crack the Champions League and knows he needs to back Ancelotti and give him the financial tools to compete with the superpowers in the transfer market.

Chelsea Braced For Ashley Cole Bids

Chelsea are bracing themselves for massive bids from Barcelona and Real Madrid for Ashley Cole.

Both of the Spanish giants are in the market for a top left-back and Cole is rated among the best in the world.

Feelers have already been put out over Cole’s availability.

So far Chelsea are resisting but Real Madrid are expected to test the Stamford Bridge resolve with a £20million offer for the 29-year-old, who has been plagued by injury and off-the-field problems.

Real Madrid have also been eyeing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra only to be told the French international is not for sale.

Blues Offer New Deal To Bruma

Jeffrey Bruma has been offered a new five-year contract at Chelsea worth £8,000 a week.

The Dutch Under-21 defender is the cream of Chelsea's expensive academy project and has already been told he will be in the first team squad next season.

Bruma, 18, is part of Chelsea's FA Youth Cup-winning side and has been earmarked for a long career at Stamford Bridge.

He signed a professional contract at the club when he moved from Dutch side Feyenoord, but Chelsea want to tie him to a long-term deal.

Although £8,000 a week is low for a first-team squad player, Chelsea are prepared to sit down each summer to discuss a revised deal if continues to make progress.

With Ricardo Carvalho expected to leave Chelsea in the summer, Bruma will move up the pecking order.

Although John Terry and Alex will take some shifting from the centre of Chelsea's defence, Bruma has been tipped to be one of their successors in years to come.

Bruma currently earns just £2,000 a week, but his improved deal is a reflection of the progress he has made this season.

His contract will also be heavily incentivised with bonuses for first team appearances.

Bruma will also pick up prize money for Premier League wins and goal bonuses as part of his package.

The central defender's rise to the first team has been carefully managed by Chelsea's director of football Frank Arnesen.

Chelsea skipper Terry was the last player to successfully come through the youth ranks and make the transition to the first team.

That was 10 years ago and Arnesen, who took up his post in 2005, has overseen a youth project that has cost the club more than £50m.

Blues Face Battle For Aguero

Chelsea face a tough battle with former manager Jose Mourinho to sign long-term target Sergio Aguero.

Juventus and Mourinho's Inter Milan are Chelsea's two main rivals for Aguero, who is likely to have made his last appearance for Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's Europa League Final win over Fulham.

Mourinho has been tracking Argentina striker Aguero for some time and, if he leaves the San Siro to become the new boss at Real Madrid, may even try to persuade the player to make the controversial switch across the Spanish capital's great divide.

Aguero himself would prefer to move to the Premier League, but only if the deal is right.

In previous negotiations with Chelsea, the player's representatives indicated he would be prepared to take a pay cut of about £1million net a year in order to fulfil his ambition of coming to England.

But Aguero's package at Atletico is so lucrative that Chelsea would still have to put him up with top earner and John Terry, whose deal is worth about £160,000 per week.

Aguero's buy-out clause is a whopping £51.5m, even allowing for the weakening of the Euro, although it is believed Atletico might accept significantly less.

Chelsea's only serious potential rivals in England for Aguero's signature are the two Manchester clubs. But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be wary of signing Argentine players after problems with Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Heinze and, most recently, Carlos Tevez, and City are yet to show firm interest in the player.

Meanwhile the hopes of Chelsea and a host of other top clubs of signing two of Europe's hottest young talents may also be dashed - at least for this year.

Chelsea have once more stepped up their interest in Lille sensation Eden Hazard, who is on the wanted list of every European giant. But the word from France is that Lille are determined to hang on to the 19-year-old Belgium international - who has been compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - for at least one more year.

And Belgian side Anderlecht have indicated that they intend to resist bids this year for 17-year-old Romelu Lukaku, who has been dubbed "the new Didier Drogba".

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay confirmed last week that manager Carlo Ancelotti would be given money to strengthen his ageing squad and, if the right marquee player became available, to sign star names.

But he also stressed the club's long-term desire to become self-sufficient and to bring through players from the Academy, whose youth team won the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 49 years earlier this month.

Cech: I Love This Cup

It's not often in this free-scoring end to the season that the Chelsea goalkeeper has been in the spotlight but no-one can deny that Petr Cech was one of heroes of the Double-clinching FA Cup win.

The Blues number one told the Official Chelsea Website on Saturday morning how much he enjoyed this competition and nothing that happened in the afternoon changed his mind.

Despite what all neutrals will surely say was a one-sided match, it took a remarkable reaction save from Cech to send the teams in level in at half-time, and that was before he kept out Kevin-Prince Boateng's penalty just minutes before Didier Drogba's winner.

'I was really confident that I was going to save the penalty and I think that was the key,' said Cech after the game as he was asked about what may have been a game-changing save.

'The mentality was strong and I was ready to face the penalty and I made a god choice.'

Cech dived to his right, the penalty was hit more-or-less centrally and he saved with his legs.

'From the body language when he ran towards it I chose the side.

'It looked like the kind of game when you keep missing and then you get punished in the end,'Cech reflected as he thought about five attempts against the woodwork prior to the penalty. What also deserves celebrating is his reflex save from Frederic Piquionne in the first half.

'I am delighted of course because we won the game we wanted to win to go into the history books, we are the first ever Chelsea team to win the Double and we are rare as a team that defended the FA Cup.

'It was my third FA Cup win and I love playing the FA Cup, I have never lost a single game in the FA Cup and it is brilliant and I really love playing in it.'