FEAST YOUR EYES BOYS!! PS: 18SX

These beautiful women of football make you wanna say Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~ Na Na Na Na~~! Haha.. No CHELSEA news of late so this is it.. Enjoy all ya'll! :)


MISS RAFAEL VAN DER VAART.
yes this chick is van der faart's babes!

ZOLA'S GERMAN Babes!
Huh! Ketiaknya atu saja nyaman!! who say european ladies bebulu ketiak? Be shave jua tu..
MISS ZOLA no.2
This one looks like Cindy Crawford without a mole! Lawa ehhhh~ Sayang abang lai~~
MISS BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER
Fuh! I think im gonna go to Germany if dem babes der are hot like this one! MISS ZOLA no.1
Now this one really makes me Melt!! Matanya yang seksi, idungnya mancung, mulutnya yang manis!

KING OF GERMANY IS MICHAEL BALLACK!!

Gabriele Marcotti's daily diary: let's talk Ballacks - the guy is a superstar

3. No doubt back in England you're being inundated by wise and original statements like "You can never count the Germans out" and so on. After such an exhausting and thrilling match, I'm still letting it all sink in. But I do want to celebrate a guy who has been in the Premier League for two years and still gets treated more like a run-of-the-mill Anton Auslander than the superstar that he is.

Michael Ballack had a monster second half of the Premiership season and, against Portugal, was instrumental in Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal, before adding another of his own. (Yes, there was a cheeky shove on Paulo Ferreira, but you have to wonder why Ferreira was on Ballack in the first place). Granted, you would expect someone making £6.5m a year to carry his team through time. But, the fact is, many highly-paid stars either go missing or simply come up short when it matters. Not Ballack. Not last night.

2. You've probably heard by now that Khalid Boulahrouz, the Holland defender, lost his baby daughter who was born pre-maturely. He's back in the squad and every indication is that he will start against Russia tonight. Whatever the case may be, my thoughts go to the Boulahrouz family. Football seems rather irrelevant at times like these. But perhaps it can help him to somehow come to terms with his pain.

1. So David Taylor, Uefa's General Secretary, has announced that the 2016 Euros may be comprised of 24 teams (up from the current 16). The proposal will be examined between now and Christmas. It's actually not a bad idea. Consider the sides who finished third in their respective qualifying groups: Serbia, Scotland, Norway, Republic of Ireland, England, Northern Ireland and Bulgaria. Plus the next best side in qualifying, say, Denmark or Ukraine. Would they drastically lower the level of the competition? Probably not. And, even then, the benefits of seeing more and diverse stars would greatly enhance the interest in the Euros. Plus, of course, the sponsors would be happy too. More games, more TV revenue, a virtual guarantee that the biggest TV markets (read: United Kingdom) will be involved... what's not to like?

Emotional Deco stands by Luiz Felipe Scolari

Deco yesterday delivered a staunch defence of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s conduct in regard to his move to Chelsea in an emotional outburst that will fuel speculation that he wants to join the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge. The Portugal midfield player is desperate to leave Barcelona after a disappointing season and the Spanish club are willing to sell to any club matching their £15 million valuation.

José Mourinho has also expressed his interest in signing him for Inter Milan, but Chelsea are in the driving seat. Deco has enjoyed a close relationship with Scolari during his five years in charge of the Portugal team and appears keen to follow him to London.

“I believe that he was totally honest throughout all this process,” Deco said. “He was at the end of his contract and people have to understand that he has to make the right decisions for his professional career. They also have to understand, because he always speaks honestly and truthfully, that what he says he feels for Portugal is truly in his heart. Anybody who doubts this or uses this to criticise his decision is doing so out of pure malice.”

Deco also backed Scolari to achieve success at Chelsea. The 30-year-old admitted to sadness on hearing of his departure, but claimed it had made Portugal even more determined to win the European Championship. “I was sad when he told us because it means we are losing a man and a coach who was primarily responsible for the way we have recovered confidence as a squad and a team,” Deco said. “He is the man responsible for the spirit and life we have inside this team and for the fantastic sense of unity we have between us.

“But, above all, I was happy for him and I am certain that he will have a lot of success at Chelsea. The dream of Scolari is to conquer something important with the squad. We are all with him and now we are even more motivated to reach our objective, which is to be champions of Europe.”

Scolari’s predecessor at Chelsea, Avram Grant, yesterday raised doubts about whether Mourinho would be a success at Inter Milan. The Israeli feels Mourinho will struggle to cope with the expectations at a club that have won three successive championships. “It is not true that we are not friends,” Grant said. “We were not particular friends before so we have the same relationship. People tried to cause problems between us, but I don’t have any problems with him and wish him all the best in Italy.

“Whether he is successful depends. It is one thing to build up an underdog and another to come off three championships, like Inter – but he is a good coach. He is a clever guy, he’s adapted to other players and I think, if he does the right thing at the right time, and learns from the past, he can continue. It is not easy, but he can do it.”

Mourinho to raid Chelsea Twice?

Earlier this week, Inter Milan signalled their intention to make Frank Lampard their number one target this summer. They also intimated that they would not be chasing any potential strikers in the close season.

It would appear that may not be the case!

Jose Mourinho, now firmly encamped in the Milan hot-seat, has been weaving those mystical threads he can be so good at. With the media hanging on to his every word, the 'Special One' has once again given us hacks some ammunition to get all hot under the collar over.

Only last week, we latched on to some comments from Didier Drogba, spending time in his homeland promoting his autobiography, that suggested, to us, that he'd be staying at Stamford Bridge next season.

Now, we're not so sure, especially as Mourinho's words resemble a web prepared to snag its prey!

Speaking about life at Milan, Jose couldn't help but, with that obvious twinkle in his eye, muddy the waters even further by remarking,

'I cannot forget Deco, Lampard and Drogba. These are players who I could never say no to.'

'I would love to work with them again in the future, but I am not too obsessed with this idea.'

Now normally, those last few words would offer us all a few crumbs of comfort, unfortunately the next two comments seem to suggest that Mourinho is hatching plans to achieve his goals when he remarks,

'I don't know which of these three will leave their clubs but we will see.'

'I want to start a cycle with the same team from last year, plus one, or two, maximum three new players.'

So shall we take it those three players will be Lampard, Deco and Drogba?

CLAUDIO PIZZARO TO BUNDESLIGA

Despite only having been with us for a year, Claudio Pizarro looks as if he`s about to head back to the Bundesliga.

Pizarro, who joined us on a free from Bayern Munich last summer, was never more than a fringe player at Stamford Bridge and was unable to secure a regular place in the side.

With a change in the managerial chair, Claudio would possibly have liked a chance to stay and try and impress 'Big Phil` Scolari, however, with illustrious names such as Ronaldinho, Kaka,Eto`o and Ribbery being touted as possible signings, the Peruvian probably feels that a move away is his best chance of getting more regular football.

According to media reports, two Bundelsiga clubs have expressed an interest in securing his services, Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen. Whether, Claudio would be a regular at either side is open to debate, however, if he is to move we`d endeavour to wish him well.

FERNANDO MANDO!!

Chelsea have been linked with a £40 million move for Spanish striker Fernando Torres.

Football fans' forum

Premier League Transfer Talk

New manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has reportedly earmarked the Liverpool forward as the man he wants to lead the line at Stamford Bridge next season, and is ready to break the British transfer record to do so.

	Target man: Fernando Torres could be replaced by David Villa

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will fight tooth and nail to keep the 24-year-old international, who scored 33 goals during his debut season in the Premier League after moving to Anfield in a £21.5 million deal from Atletico Madrid.

With the future of Didier Drogba uncertain - both AC Milan and Inter Milan have expressed an interest - Chelsea need to sign a striker, and believe Liverpool's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, will be tempted to sell Torres for £40 million to reduce their debts.

A Chelsea source is quoted in the News of the World as saying: "Scolari is well aware it will be a real battle to try to get Torres out of Liverpool.

"But he's ready to make the sort of bid that will even make the Americans sit up and take notice.

"Obviously he knows that Liverpool don't want to sell one of their star assets but he still believes he can exploit the trouble and turmoil at Anfield to get his man."

Chelsea are clearly already feeling the benefits of the Scolari effect, with Ronaldinho and Deco expressing their desire to move to Stamford Bridge, and Drogba apparently changing his mind about leaving.

The Portugal coach does not even start work until July 1 but such is his pull that all three have said they are eager to work with 'Big Phil', who is already drawing up a shopping list of his own that is reportedly headed by Torres.

Ronaldinho wants to leave Barcelona and, speaking from his home in Porto Alegre, Brazil, admitted he would welcome the chance to be reunited with the coach who made him a World Cup winner six years ago. "I am Gaucho [the name given to those from the Rio Grande do Sul area of Brazil] like Scolari," said the 28-year-old forward. "I won the World Cup with him in 2002. I grew a lot with him and it would be a pleasure to cross paths with him again."

Deco, as Portugal's playmaker for the past four years, is another who has flourished under Scolari. He too wants to leave Barcelona and after outstanding displays at Euro 2008, Scolari wants to sign him.

Deco's one concern is that, at 30, Barcelona might ask for more than the £15 million Chelsea are prepared to pay. "At my age you cannot ask too much for me," he said.

Scolari will have to compete with Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan's new manager, for the signature of Deco but it looks like he might not have to sell Drogba to his 'special' predecessor.

Drogba said: "Mourinho is my friend and I am happy for him because he was missing coaching. He is a top coach but my contract here runs until 2010 and I am still a Chelsea player."

Meanwhile, should Torres be sold, the man to replace him at Liverpool could be none other than his Spain teammate David Villa.

Villa has attracted attention at Euro 2008 with some eye-catching performances, and Benitez is known to be a big fan of the Valencia forward.

Villa, currently valued at £25 million, is keen to experience Premier League football, and working under a Spanish coach is a key selling point.

Villa said: "Liverpool and Chelsea are both big clubs with a lot of attraction. Liverpool have a Spanish coach and I also have a lot of friends there.

"When Rafa was coach at Valencia and I was at Zaragoza there was contact about me joining Valencia but I couldn't arrive until the year after he left there."

MAN ON FIRE! DAVID VILLA

DAVID VILLA will snub Roman Abramovich by rejecting a multi-million pound move to Chelsea.

The Euro 2008 strike sensation wants to stay in Spain and join Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Villa and his Spanish strike partner Fernando Torres are both Blues targets.

A £65million package is being put together for the pair with Valencia hotshot Villa valued at £22m.

But Villa, 26, would prefer to stay in his homeland while Liverpool will reject any bid for Torres.

Villa hit his fourth Euro goal against Sweden on Saturday to take Spain into the quarter-finals.

Valencia are resigned to losing him but Villa told friends if either Barcelona or Real Madrid try for him that is where he will go.

Even in England, he would prefer Arsenal to Chelsea because of their style of play.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez twice tried to sign Villa and, although that option is unlikely, the player is a fan of the Anfield chief.

RONALDINHO IS CHELSEA FO SHOOOO'~!!

Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, has hinted at the possibility of the Barcelona forward linking up with Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.

Scolari, the current Portugal coach, was on Wednesday announced as the new Blues boss to take the helm after the Euro 2008 campaign on 1st July.

The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year is expected to exit Barca this summer, and Manchester City were recently permitted to open talks with the star.

But, having worked under Scolari when he was the Brazil coach, it has now been speculated that the Barcelona forward could be on the new Chelsea manager's shopping list.

De Assis said: "At the moment Ronaldinho is taking a complete break at home in Porte Alegre.

"There are options for next season and obviously he knows Scolari very well and they have enjoyed great success together.

"We'll see what happens but my brother will be ready for next season."

SCOLARI's BLUE AND WHITE ARMY!! CHELSEA FOREVER!!

SCOLARI'S TRANSFER TARGETS

New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari will be handed a £100m transfer kitty to lure the best players in the world to Stamford Bridge. (Various)

Scolari will target AC Milan star Kaka and will spend £55m on the midfielder. (Daily Mirror)

The appointment of the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge could see the arrival of Barcelona midfielder Deco. Scolari could also convince Ricardo Carvalho to stay at the club. (The Sun)

Scolari will be handed a blank cheque to bring in new players and will spend up to £50m on Brazillian star Kaka. (Daily Express)

David Villa is the most wanted striker in Europe with Scolari favourite to land the £25m Spaniard. (Daily Mirror)

Know our Scolari... Will he be the special one?..

So everyone what do you think about our new manager? I not very satified with it. Well not as what I expect, he will take over Chelsea. Euro 2008 have not yet finish, and now Chelsea in rush to sign him, what a decision is that?. What about if Portugal was lost the game last night, will Chelsea signed him also?.. But anyway, I now open minded and I wish he will do his best with Chelsea. Scolari please help Chelsea to win UEFA Champions League next season...

Scolari is to take over as Chelsea manager on July 1, 2008. This was announced shortly after Portugal's Euro 2008 match against the Czech Republic on June 11, 2008. Many Premier League fans will relish the confrontations between Scolari and Sir Alex Ferguson and have been warned to expect "tantrums" more importantly "triumphs".

Now I want to share you all what kind of person Scolari are?. Well enjoy reading this. Know our new manager.



Scolari is famous for his temper and for his histrionic "performance" by the field while the match is going on, reacting strongly to both the best and the worst moments of his team. A good example of his fierce temper was a September 12, 2007 qualifying match for Euro 2008 against Serbia when, at the end of the game, and after the referee had blown the whistle for a 1-1 draw, Scolari, after being slapped in the hand by the Serbian player Ivica Dragutinovic, grazed him in the face with a left hook.

His character, however, is often seen as a good point, instead of a drawback, because he tries to keep the players (and himself) free of external pressures: he usually demands a lot more freedom than most coaches are allowed and is bent on exerting a somewhat discretionary power. Some critics mostly agree that his unique character was very beneficial to the Portuguese national team, which had a tradition of talented players but never won anything because of excessive intervention from the federation, the clubs and the player's agents, as well as a lack of a true "team spirit". However, his reputation as a "father" and big friend to his players is untouchable.



In the 2002 FIFA World Cup he gave each of his players a copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War, a Chinese military treatise written during the 6th century BC. He also gave the team recordings of Ivete Sangalo Festa videoclip, to enforce the Brazilian spirit and motivate the team engagement. In the recent 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany he used the The Art of War again to plan his team's win against England.

Scolari also holds Italian citizenship, since his family emigrated from Veneto. He is said to be a fan of Grêmio and Palmeiras.

These are Chelsea’s manager since 1905:

Robertson (1905–06) • Lewis (1906–07) • Calderhead (1907–33) • Knighton (1933–39) • Birrell (1939–52) • Drake (1952–61) • Docherty (1961–67) • Sexton (1967–74) • Suart (1974–75) • McCreadie (1975–77) • Shellito (1977–78) • Blanchflower (1978–79) • Hurst (1979–81) • Gould (1981) • Neal (1981–85) • Hollins (1985–88) • Campbell (1988–91) • Porterfield (1991–93) • Webb (1993) • Hoddle (1993–96) • Gullit (1996–98) • Vialli (1998–2000) • Rix (2000) • Ranieri (2000–04) • Mourinho (2004–07) • Grant (2007–08) • Scolari (2008 -)

FUCKING HELL YEAH! SCOLARI THE NEW BOSS! FUCK YEAH! FUCK YEAH!

I AM SO FUCKING HAPPY AND ITS 5am IN THE MORNING FOR FUCK'S SAKE! THIS WAS JUST IN!!!

Chelsea TV and www.chelseafc.com can exclusively reveal the following statement:

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to confirm that Luiz Felipe Scolari will be the club's new manager from July 1, 2008.

Felipe has great qualities. He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours. He was the outstanding choice.

Out of respect for his current role as Head Coach of the Portuguese national team, and to ensure minimum disruption to this work, there will be no further comment from Chelsea FC nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences.

That was taken OFFICIALLY from Chelseafc.com.

I am so glad that Scolari is the new manager of Chelsea because I admire his style of play (attacking football) and his sense of bringing out the best in players examples like Moutinho, Nani, Veloso and all the young portuguese players. Once again, i applaud ChelseaFC for picking out whom I best believe the best manager! (Thank god it wasn't Rijkaard or Mancini!)

Btw, DON'T FUCK WITH SCOLARI OR HE WILL PUNCH YOU! REMEMBER THIS?

Didier Drogba sale could trigger £100m-worth of transfers

Didier Drogba holds the key to a £100m striker merry-goround.

The Chelsea forward is top of AC Milan's wanted list and the Italian giants are hopeful of completing a £18m deal.

The Blues will resist Milan's £18m bid for Drogba, holding out for nearer the £31m they paid to land Andriy Shevchenko from the San Siro side two years ago.

But with Milan also keen on bringing the Ukrainian striker back to Serie A, Chelsea will be willing to let both go - if they get Brazilian schemer Kaka in exchange.

Drogba's uncertain future has also put the brakes on moves involving Dimitar Berbatov, Karim Benzema, Samuel Eto'o and David Villa. Drogba, 30, is also wanted by Inter's former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (below) and the Ivory Coast forward would love to hook up with his ex-manager again.

But AC Milan have also got Eto'o, Berbatov and Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor on their hit-list. However, AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti's preferred choice is Drogba and the Italians will wait on the Chelsea man until making moves for other strikers.

That has left Eto'o, Drogba, Benzema, Villa and Berbatov waiting for the green light on a £100m merry-go-round.

Berbatov, still likely to leave Tottenham this summer in a £30m deal, fancies a move to Real Madrid.

But yesterday France striker Benzema, 20, who could leave Lyon for £30m, indicated that he would prefer a move to Real Madrid rather than Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson also likes Ajax's Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar who is valued at 315m. Should Berbatov go, Spurs will target Villa or Real Zaragoza forwards Diego Milito and Sergio Garcia.

Spurs have also looked at Barcelona's out-of-favour Eto'o but AC Milan will move for him if they fail to land Drogba, with Adebayor another option.

SAMUEL ETO'O ....

CHELSEA are in a £20m battle with Jose Mourinho for Samuel Eto’o.

The Blues are desperate to sign the Barcelona striker but Eto’o has confirmed that Mourinho’s new club Inter Milan, and Spurs, also want to sign him.

Chelsea have agreed to sell Didier Drogba to AC Milan for £18m and want Eto’o as his replacement, even though they do not have a manager at the moment.

But for now they have to make him agree not to join former boss Mourinho at the San Siro.

Eto’o, 27, has decided that he wants out of the Nou Camp after Real Madrid secured back-to-back titles.

Frank Rijkaard, the former Barca boss who is being interviewed for the Chelsea job with Roberto Mancini tomorrow on Roman Abramovich’s yacht in Monte Carlo, would love to have Eto’o at Stamford Bridge.

It is just a case of persuading the Cameroon international that the Premier League would be the best option.

He said: “For me there is little chance I will go to Tottenham because they are in the mid-table and I need more for my style of football,” he said.

“I still have a deal with Barcelona until 2010 and would be happy to stay.

“But I have not excluded the option of joining Inter Milan.

“Chelsea are also fighting for my services with Inter and I am happy about that. Mourinho is a big coach and I would be happy to play for him.”

Eto’o plans to make a decision about his future when he returns from international duty later this month.

All the offers were put to the striker last week by his agent, Jose Maria Mesalles.

The problem Chelsea face is that Mourinho has told Mesalles that he wants to speak with the player directly to persuade him to go to Italy.

Without a manager in place at the moment Chelsea are hindered because Eto’o will not agree to go to Stamford Bridge until he knows who will be the boss.

ROMANIA vs FRANCE | ITALY vs NETHERLANDS

Having a break from Chelsea News, let's talk about EURO 2008.

My choices are Portugal because they play the best football so far in the friendlies and previous matches and because they have Big Phil Scolari and super talents like Deco, Veloso, Nani, Moutinho, Ronaldo, Quaresma(although he wasn't played against Turkey, still is the BEST!), Bosingwa, Ricardo, Ferreira, Nuno Gomes, Pepe, Raul Meireless in the team! The Portuguese I have to say are the MOST complete team in Defense and Attacking and that's why I'm putting my money on them to win this year's EURO 2008.

GERMANY, after seeing their win against Poland 2-0 from Podolski goals, are better than what I have expected! The sweet short passing, the long balls, the skills from Klose, Gomes, Ballack, Podolski, Frings, Lahm, Jansen, Schweinsteiger killed Poland and in truth, Poland lost without giving a fight. I describe Germany as a very interesting team to watch and are not boring like before. GO BALLACK!

TONIGHT is GROUP C and that means ITALY, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS and ROMANIA are in action! Thats right, the Group of Death as it is dubbed is playing tonight!

Romania vs France are playing first and I can't wait to see Les Bleus in action especially the Chelsea stars Malouda, Anelka, Makelele and not forgetting KARIM BENZEMA, FRANCK RIBERY and the new boy dubbed as the new DROGBA, BATEFIMBI GOMIS. Yes, he is being dubbed the new Drogba because he is big, athletic and powerful and most importantly YOUNG! So CHELSEA please buy GOMIS and BENZEMA!

IMAGINE THIS! CHELSEA STARTING LINE-UP:
Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, JT, Fereirra, Malouda, Deco, Ribery, Quaresma, Gomis, Benzema
Formation: 4-3-3
A taste of Portuguese and French flavor!

BACK TO EURO. ITALY vs NETHERLANDS @ Real Madrid ( thats the way I see it!) will be playing the late game and it should be one not to miss! I don't know much about these two teams but one thing I know for sure is that ITALY are the current WORLD CHAMPIONS and that should be a good reason to watch them play.

Predictions anyone??

GOSSIP GOSSIP GOSSIP GIRL!

BREAKING GOSSIP

Chelsea managerial target Carlo Ancelloti has said he would only leave AC Milan to coach Roma, the team he captained as a player. (1530 BST, Corriere dello Sport)

AC Milan have been given permission to talk to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba but not Andriy Shevchenko. (0930 BST, Gazzetta dello Sport)

CHELSEA MANAGER LATEST

Chelsea have offered AC Milan a world record 'transfer fee' of £20m in an attempt to bring their manager Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge. (Sunday Express)

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Sir Alex Ferguson has desperately been trying to speak to Cristiano Ronaldo while on holiday in France but the Manchester United winger will not answer his manager's calls, increasing Ferguson's fears that the winger will join Real Madrid. (News of the Word)

Manchester United are set to cave in to fend off Real Madrid and offer Cristiano Ronaldo a £7.2m pay deal that will see him become the Premier League's top earner on £150,000 a week. (The People)

Sources close to the Manchester United boss have ridiculed reports that he has been barred from a private meeting with Ronaldo, insisting Ferguson never had plans to break his family holiday. (Mail on Sunday)

Jose Mourinho has made Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard a £30m summer target but the Inter Milan boss has been told he would be wasting his time making an official bid. (News of the World)

Mourinho has plenty of other options with Blackburn winger David Bentley joining Chelsea's Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Ricardo Carvalho on his wish list. (News of the World)

Barcelona midfielder Deco is poised to sign for Chelsea in a £15m deal that is likely to clear the way for Frank Lampard to leave Stamford Bridge for Inter. (Mail on Sunday)

Robin van Persie will consider his future if any more stars are allowed to leave Arsenal, saying he wants assurances that no-one else will leave before he signs a new deal. (News of the World)

There is some good news for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger however as Arsenal edged closer to signing £5m Aaron Ramsey after Cardiff City's teenager met Wenger in Switzerland on Saturday. (News of the World)

Newcastle are planning to sack jailed £55,000-a-week midfielder Joey Barton unless he agrees to a 50% pay cut. (Mail on Sunday)

Liverpool's owners have told manager Rafael Benitez that striker Peter Crouch can leave the club for £10m. (News of the World)

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has been promised up to £200m over three years and a chunk of that money looks certain to bring Barcelona's Ronaldinho to Eastlands. (News of the World)

Arsenal are lining up a £3.5m bid for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. (News of the World)

Louis Saha is set to be offered as bait in Manchester United's bid to land Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz with the France striker being used as a makeweight in a £10m transfer. (News of the World)

But Arsenal are ready to make a £12m bid for the Blackburn striker as they prepare to lose Emmanuel Adebayor to Milan for £30m. (Mail on Sunday)

Rangers are to offer £3m in cash for Middlesbrough's England Under-21 winger Adam Johnson. (News of the World)

Tottenham are unwilling to meet Rangers' £10m asking price for goalkeeper Allan McGregor. (Sunday Mail)

Steve Davis' agent says the midfielder is poised to complete his permanent transfer from Fulham to Rangers within two weeks. (Sunday Mail)

Rangers will make an increased offer for Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds after having a near £1m offer rejected. (Sunday Times)

Charlton Athletic say they have not had an approach from Rangers for defender Madjid Bougherra. (Sunday Mail)

QPR's Iain Dowie has been given the go-ahead to sign three strikers with West Brom's Kevin Phillips, Bobby Zamora of West Ham and Wolves star Freddy Eastwood his targets. (News of the World)

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has made a £2m bid for Celtic defender Lee Naylor. (News of the World)

Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will reject overtures from Feyenoord and Werder Bremen to stay in Glasgow. (Sunday Mail)

Celtic defender Bobo Balde is a target for Birmingham and Wolves. (Sunday Mail)

Celtic midfielder Evander Sno is a possible target for Porto. (Sunday Mail)

Manchester United's top scout Jim Lawlor is preparing to fly to America to watch 18-year-old defender/midfielder Brek Shea - the new rising star of United States football. (The People)

Out-of-contract Dundee United midfielder Mark Kerr is wanted by Leeds, Burnley, Coventry, Leicester and Doncaster. (Sunday Mail)

Dundee United have confirmed they are making a bid for Sunderland striker Roy O'Donovan. (Sunday Times)

Russell Anderson has rejected a move to Plymouth and wants to fight for his place at Sunderland. (Sunday Mail)

Derby County midfielder Stephen Pearson is wanted by Birmingham. (News of the World)

Aberdeen and Hartlepool are interested in Ayr United midfielder Ryan Stevenson. (News of the World)

Paris St Germain goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo says he rejected an approach from Hearts to sign for Nantes. (News of the World)

Real Madrid will decide this week whether to make a move for Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher. (Sunday Mail)

Wolves' Welsh international goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has his heart set on a move to Premier League giants Arsenal. (News of the World)

CHELSEA TO KEEP CLARKE!

Clarke has been awarded most of the plaudits for resurrecting Chelsea’s early season stutters following Jose Mourinho’s departure last September, thus steering the team within a whisker of both the Premier League and Champions League titles.

Manager Avram Grant and his Dutch assistant Henk ten Cate were both dismissed after an ultimately trophyless season, and some expected Clarke would soon follow.

But The Observer reports that the higher ups at Stamford Bridge have decided to retain the Scot’s services, evidently recognising his vital contributions on the training pitch and the respect he commands from the players.

The decision has all but confirmed that Chelsea will look to appoint a manager who comes without massive entourage, as while Clarke is likely to remain as first-team coach, certain figures within the club – such as reserves manager Brendan Rogers – are set to receive promotions to the senior staff.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich is spearheading the search for a new gaffer, and will hold meetings with various candidates this month despite planning to attend several EURO 2008 matches.

Guus Hiddink is reportedly still in the mix to succeed, despite his plan to take Russia to the 2010 World Cup. A less than satisfactory showing in Austria and Switzerland could see the Russian Football Federation decline to renew his contract, which would well and truly open the door for Abramovich and co.

Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is also on the Chelsea radar, and is understood to be open to discussions once his team – dark horses to win the tournament – end their EURO campaign.

Roberto Mancini and Frank Rijkaard remain near the top of the list, having been sacked by Internazionale and Barcelona respectively at the end of last season, but a series of personal issues could count against them when it comes to the crunch.

Fantasy Chelsea 2008-2009 My picks! ;)

Name: Dr.J (Zola)

My manager: Big Phil Scolari

His management team will be: Steve Clarke, certainly the new manager will bring a couple of his own people.

Player of the Year will be: David Villa

Top scorer: David Villa with: 40 goals

Newcomer of the year: Franco Di Santo

We will finish:

In the Premiership: Champions

In the Champions League - Champions (v Inter off course!)

In the FA Cup: Champions (v Man Utd )

In the Carling Cup: Champions (v Arsenal)

This is how I will shape my squad!

Players to be released for free or top £100,000 (2-3): - Claudio Pizarro, Hilario, Ben Haim

Players I will sell: (3-4) Steve Sidwell (£5 million), Drogba (£25 million), Belletti (£1 million), Lampard (£12 million), Shevchenko ( £5 million ), Anelka (£15 million), Cudicini (£5 million) , Carvalho (£20 million) TOTAL= £91 million

Players to be promoted from the youth group: (2-3) - Gael Kakuta, Miroslav Stoch, Rhys Taylor

Players I will buy for my £20 million + £91 million from what I sell : From club / Position / Price

David Villa from Valencia for £16 million

Quaresma from Porto for £10 million

Messi from Barcelona for £35 million

Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid for £30 million

Karim Benzema from Lyon for £15 million


My squad: (23 plus goalies) Cech, Taylor - A Cole, Ivanovic, JT, Ferreira, Alex, Bosingwa, Mikel, Makelele, Essien, Ballack, Quaresma, Joe Cole, Kalou, Malouda, Stoch, Kakuta, Messi, Aguero, Di Santo, Benzema, Villa.

We will be playing - Most of the youngsters like Sinclair, Stoch, Kakuta, Taylor, Di Santo plus players like Alex, Ivanovic, Bridge in the Carling Cup. A couple of youngsters ingrained into the main team for the FA Cup.

My Chelsea will play - this formation mainly: 4-4-2

My starting XI for the season will be: Cech - Bosingwa, JT, Alex, A.Cole- Quaresma, Mikel, Essien, Messi - Aguero, Villa.

Comment: Well, this is just my fantasy. So yeah, if you have a better one, simply copy all this and show us your fantasy!

LUCIANO SPAGHETTI...SPALLETTI!

Luciano Spalletti, whose Roma team is more famed for their stylish football than for winning titles, has emerged as the latest favourite to fill the vacant manager's seat at Chelsea.

The Roma coach is in pole position following AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti's public rebuttal of Chelsea's advances - although Roman Abramovich may have been encouraged by mixed messages coming out of Italy yesterday suggesting he may still be interested.

Unlike Ancelotti, Spalletti has never won Italy's Serie A and has a mere two Italian Cups in his trophy cabinet. Roma have finished second in the league behind Inter Milan for the past three years.

However, Roma's flair and slick passing during their 4-2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in last season's Champions League may have convinced club owner Roman Abramovich that Spalletti has what it takes to bring glory to Chelsea.

Both are negotiating their contracts and could come with Spalletti to Chelsea if he signs. Roma were quiet about losing their iconic manager yesterday, but did not deny the possibility. Spalletti was also silent, and is usually quick to quash rumours.

La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested that he had been taking English lessons for the past few weeks. Spalletti signed a new contract last year tying him to the club until 2011. However, he might be tempted by the opportunity to double or triple his annual £2.5 million pay packet.

Spalletti is idolised in Rome for his tactical nous. He cut his teeth at Empoli, Sampdoria, Venezia, Ancona and Udinese, a dowdy Northern Italian club which he took to the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Out of necessity, Spalletti came up with the 4-6-0 'strikerless' formation which has since been copied, and tweaked, by Sir Alex Ferguson.

BENITEZ APPROACHES CHELSEA FOR THE JOB!

Chelsea`s quest for a new coach took a new - and unexpected - twist with the rumours from Spain that the club is seriously considering an approach from Rafa Benitez to take over the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

Today`s papers in Spain are reporting a radio programme scoop, over the weekend, that the (current) Liverpool coach made it known to the Chelsea management, via an intermediary, to let Chelsea know that Benitez would be interested in switching clubs should Chelsea make a formal approach.

Although the details are very sketchy, it would appear that Chelsea are seriously considering this approach, and that Benitez is on a shortlist that has now been narrowed down to Benitez, Mark Hughes and Luiz Philip Scolari. Despite the latter having been recommended by Fabio Capello, Chelsea are doubtful of the Brazilian, as he doesn`t speak English. Furthermore, his commitment to the Portuguese national team means that he could only be available by the end of June, a timeframe considered too late for Chelsea`s ambitions.

Whilst Mark Hughes has a number of supporters amongst the Chelsea hierarchy, apparently Rafa Benitez is rapidly gaining favour with Roman Abramovich, who has seen that he is a coach who can deliver regular participation in the finals of the Champions League, including actually winning the trophy.

What is surprising is the news that it is Benitez himself who made his interest in the vacant Chelsea position known. From what we read, Benitez has become deeply disillusioned with the complicated politics of Liverpool`s ownership and the unresolved dislike between the club`s co-owners. The fact that Messrs Gillett and Hicks are unable to be in the same room together means that Benitez` transfer plans for the summer are to be put on hold. Benitez foresees that an inability to strengthen key areas of the squad will inevitably lead to continued domestic under-achievement at Liverpool next season, with the resulting criticism.

For this reason, Benitez is attracted to the idea of working at a club where a considerably larger transfer budget could allow the Spanish coach to fashion a team that will combine the motivation needed to win cups with the necessary stamina for a long League campaign.

But Benitez` approach to Chelsea is said to be conditional. Aware that the Liverpool fans will take the coach`s 'defection` badly, he has asked that Chelsea not insist that Benitez target Liverpool players for a switch to Stamford Bridge. Those of us who remember the running saga of Steven Gerrard`s two flirtations with Chelsea will be relieved at this. Instead, Benitez will work to identify transfers on the basis of his extensive knowledge of Spanish football coupled with cherry-picking players who shine at the European Championships. Few names are mentioned other than Spain striker David Villa.

On the Chelsea side, Roman Abramovich is one of the main defenders of Benitez. Other key members of his entourage are said to be arguing that, despite recent animosity between Chelsea and Liverpool, the excellent atmosphere in which the recent Champions League semi-final took place might placate the Chelsea fans.

Whilst we consider that these rumours could have been planted by Benitez` people to unblock Liverpool`s transfer budget, there is too much detail in the Spanish radio revelations for the whole story to be completely baseless.

This particular hack is sceptical as to whether Rafa Benitez, Chelsea manager, would deliver the attractive football that Roman apparently craves. Neither do we consider that notoriously grumpy Benitez would help improve Chelsea`s public image. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that he can deliver. We would be curious to know what other fans think of this possibility.