AC Milan plan £28M bid for Chelsea’s Drogba
The News of the World says the Italian giants have made Chelsea’s 33-goal hitman their No1 target AHEAD of Andriy Shevchenko. A top Milan source said: “Our vice-president has already spoken to Didier’s representatives and made it clear we still want to sign him. “We know Didier really wanted to come last year but it didn’t happen. This year it could be different.” Milan have also told Shevchenko, who left them to join Chelsea for £31m last summer, he’d be welcome back. It is unthinkable both would go to the San Siro but Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani made it clear to Drogba’s people he is their top choice.
The Battle for Torres
The Spanish outfit have sparked a new chase for their £25million-rated forward by trying to sign a replacement in Italian striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, says the Mirror. Atletico have put off all bidders for young forward Torres in the past, but their move for the Udinese forward has set the ball in motion for the biggest summer auction of all.
- United chief Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-term admirer of Torres and would do business, especially if the price dropped a little.
- Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich has also tried and failed for him before.
- Liverpool will try to break up that monopoly with a move of their own, although that will be a test of their new American wealth – and whether the owners are prepared to pay top dollar for the Spaniard. The Merseyside outfit will have more pulling power if they land the Champions League trophy next week.
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May 20th, 2007
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said Sunday that the FA Cup winners would not be looking to make any major new signings during the close season. However he said there would be some movement in and out of the club before the start of next season.
Chelsea may have relinquished their Premiership title to Manchester United this season but they finished on a high by winning the FA Cup on Saturday, beating United 1-0 after extra time at the new Wembley to complete a domestic cup double.
“We were second in the Premier League and in the semi-finals of the Champions League, so you have got to say on the back of two other seasons of winning the Premiership, it has been a very good year, and the team is getting stronger,” said Kenyon. “It would have been unjust had we finished up with only one trophy, because of the team effort this season. They and the manager have shown great spirit.” Kenyon insists the squad will not need major surgery this summer.
He told BBC radio: “I doubt we will have big-name signings because I do not think we need it. “We are in the region of moving three out and bringing three or four in. We are looking for some cover. “We are looking for central defence, a midfield and a striker. They will be good players who can contribute to the team and the squad. “That will give us not only the added numbers we need for the competitions, but also cover. “We have got to bear in mind that we are losing potentially four players for the African Nations Cup in January next year, which is going to be a challenge for us.”
The Chelsea chief executive also rejected suggestions Andriy Shevchenko and German international Michael Ballack would be offloaded following largely disappointing first campaigns at Stamford Bridge, “We have brought both these players in for three or four years – we did not bring them in for a season,” Kenyon insisted. “I am confident they are going to be here as big players with Chelsea next season. “They want to contribute a lot more, they feel they have a lot more to give. It takes time to settle in.” “They are two fantastic professionals. It is an exciting prospect to see those two guys on top of their game for us next season.”
Kenyon said the club would now also be focussing on tying down two of its stallwarts to long-term deals. Reports have suggested England midfielder Frank Lampard, 28, is considering buying out the remainder of his current deal, and he has been linked with a move to Barcelona. However, both Lampard and England captain John Terry, 26, have made it clear they would prefer to extend their stay at Chelsea, provided the right terms can be agreed.
“We got to the point within the season where we all like to just concentrate on football, and they both reacted very positively to that,” said Kenyon. “Now we will be concentrating on getting those contracts put to bed, and John Terry and Frank Lampard starting back with us on July 9. “It is business as usual now, it is just a slightly different business to what we have been involved in during the last six months.”
May 20th, 2007