Manchester City have opened up talks with Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes as Chelsea can only watch in dismay. Rovers are expected to the give the go ahead today. Mark Hughes having a very successful season in charge of Blackburn has attracted attention for a lot of clubs seeking a new manager. He was one of the high priorities on Chelsea’s shortlist. This coming not to long after reports of Avram Grant the ex-Chelsea Manager being linked into a Managerial Job with Manchester City earlier this week.
Sensationally, Ex-Manager Jose Mourinho has joined Inter Milan after also being linked with Chelsea due to the papers stating that he has admitted he wants to rejoin Chelsea Football Club and would like to be their manager again. Meaning that Chelsea will need to pick up the pace if they are interested in signing Mark Hughes as their future manager.
A club statement said: “Mark has made it clear to the board he would like the opportunity to talk to Manchester City.
“An approach has been received from Manchester City to talk to him with regard to becoming manager.
“In view of this the board have decided reluctantly to give him permission.”
After a rough season; finishing runners-up in the Premiership and ending up only Finalists in the Champions League having succumb to Manchester United. They now find themselves in a difficult position, of which they need to find a new manager that will take hold of the current situation at Stamform Bridge and guide them back to their winning ways. Hughes has already met with Rovers chairman John Williams, stating his intentions to leave the club for the challenge with Manchester City. Williams already has Sam Allardyce at the top of his wanted list to replace Hughes.
Carlo Ancelotti has been propelled to favourite to land the £6million-a-year manager’s job at Chelsea.
The Daily Express claims that the AC Milan boss has been offered the job and owner Roman Abramovich has made Ancelotti his personal No1 choice.
Even though no one has yet been offered the job, nor has a decision been made, but clearly Ancelotti has emerged as the favourite to succeed Avram Grant, with Blackburn boss Mark Hughes a close second.
Abramovich would also like Gianfranco Zola to return to the Bridge as Ancelotti’s No2 after the sacking of Grant’s assistant, Henk ten Cate, yesterday. The former Ajax coach had been at the club for only seven months .
The race to become the new manager of Chelsea took a fresh twist last night when sources in Italy claimed that AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti had been offered the £6million-a-year job.
Ancelotti is believed to be a favourite of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and will be tempted not only by the huge salary on offer but by the transfer war chest the Russian can offer and guaranteed Champions League football.
AC Milan finished fifth in Serie A, which means that they will be out of the Champions League for only the second time in the past decade, which may convince Ancelotti to move on.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon would prefer to interview several candidates, with Blackburn boss Mark Hughes also a front runner.
They will face fierce competition from Manchester City, though. City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has also targeted Hughes as a potential successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is expected to be axed in the next 24 hours.
Hughes is the most highly rated young British-born boss in the Premier League and a former team-mate of Gianfranco Zola, the man Abramovich is courting as a No2.
Hughes, 44, has told friends he does not want to become a pawn in any political power games at Chelsea – but is keen if the terms are right.
Shinawatra is willing to pay big money for the right man – though not perhaps in Chelsea’s league – and has also targeted Luiz Felipe Scolari and Roberto Mancini, who left Inter Milan yesterday.
Jose Mourinho is expected to be unveiled as Inter Milan’s new coach early next week.
Liverpool target Albert Riera has revealed he is desperate to quit Espanyol.
The £6million-rated Spanish winger is being chased by Kop boss Rafa Benitez.
And Riera has accelerated his exit by slamming the criticism aimed at the club’s players.
He said: “I want to leave Espanyol. I do not want to be part of a club that does not take care of or protect its players.
“I do not know if I will go to Liverpool or some other team. I am staying hopeful and I would really like everything sorted out within the next two weeks.
“It would be best for everyone concerned because I know that my transfer would clearly be beneficial. I do not want to cause any problems.
“I don’t want to be at a club where the supporters have no love for the players, or where it depends on whether the team qualifies for Europe or not.”
Riera’s move to Anfield could be thrown into doubt after it was revealed he has a £16million release clause in his contract.
Sporting director Paco Herrera, a former Liverpool coach, said: “If he says he is going to go then he has more information than his club – he must know that there is an interested club who will pay the amount of money needed.”
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will stick with the London club - and intends to prise Kaka away from AC Milan, it has been revealed.
DiarioSport says Abramovich has told close friends he will continue to pump his millions into Chelsea, despite Wednesday’s glorious Champions League failure. And he sees Kaka as the man to deliver the changes he wants to bring to the Blues next season.
Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan’s coach, is the man Abramovich wants to take charge next season. However, football chief Frank Arnesen is under pressure, according to sources.
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is switching his attentions from Samuel Eto’o to Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry, according to a local Spanish cabbie!
Onda Cero’s ‘Ona esportiva’ reported yesterday claims from a taxi driver, known as ‘Miguel’, who took Ramos around Barcelona that he was discussing his transfer plans on his mobile phone during the journey.
During the trip, Ramos held two conversations via his mobile phone.
In the first, he said loudly: “Eto’o, impossible. Now we will go for Henry.”
In the second, he expressed his intention to sign a central defender and a left winger, and noted the names of Dani Jarque, the Espanyol defender, and Valencia midfielder David Silva.
Bolivian ace Marcelo Moreno admits he is flattered by Tottenham’s interest in him.
The Cruziero striker, 20, has been one of the stars of the Copa Libertadores after firing eight goals in just 10 games.
Manchester United have been tracking Moreno but Spurs are the only English team to have made a firm bid.
The North London side’s initial offer was rejected by Cruzeiro last week.
But the hitman, who has been compared to Spurs ace Dimitar Berbatov, still hopes to move to the Premier League.
He revealed: “I was told about the offer made by Tottenham.
“Of course I would like to play in England. But as I said before, I have to like the place where I will be.
“The club has to get to an agreement with my agent and from what I know what has been offered wasn’t enough.”
Juande Ramos fears he is being priced out of his bid to sign Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o.
Tottenham’s boss flew to Spain on Monday to open negotiations for the Cameroon striker, 27.
But Barca want £33million for him, while the player’s £6m-a- year wage demands look sure to scupper any deal.
That is more than double the £60,000-a-week paid to current top earners Robbie Keane and Ledley King.
Rafa Benitez is after Espanyol’s £6million-rated winger Albert Riera.
Liverpool will try to offload Argie Sebastian Leto as part of the deal.
Spaniard Reira, who was on loan at Manchester City two years ago, is also interesting Blackburn and Spurs.
Benitez said: “Philipp is still young but has great experience from Dortmund and on the international stage with Switzerland.
”He also played in the Champions League during his time with Basel and so is used to top level football.”
The Kop chief also wants Bordeaux skipper Ulrich Rame, 35, as back-up to first choice keeper Pepe Reina.
Benitez hopes to tempt the French runners-up into a straight swap for his current second choice keeper Charles Itandje.
Rame, a former French international, would have to forego Champions League action for a place on the bench at Anfield, but the Reds hope higher wages and a two-year deal will sway him.
The Barcelona player Yaya Toure, brother of Arsenal’s Kolo, has admitted that he would love the opportunity to play alongside his brother at the Emirates. “I am aware of the interest from the Premier League,” he said. “It would be great to play in a big team with my brother.”
Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has revealed he is on the brink of signing a new four-year deal with the club.
Arsene Wenger has said that he hopes to make a new signing within a few weeks. “I know what I want and I am very confident,” he said. “I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. But the fans should be re-assured by what they see.” One of the first signings could be Lyon’s 21-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa, who has just been voted Young Player of the Year in France. Wenger could also look to another Frenchman, Lilian Thuram, to boost his defence.
He said of rumours linking him to the Emirates: “It is true that we have spoken about Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen. Today I am at Lyon. We will see what tomorrow is made of. I try to give my maximum and to give everything when I am on the pitch.”
Wenger will make strengthening his defence a priority this summer, and has apparently been offered Barcelona skipper Carlos Puyol. The Spanish club would want Cesc Fabregas in return, but Fabregas has recently reassured fans that he will stay at the club.
Alexander Hleb’s departure from the club has apparently and quickly progressed from a mere rumour to something inevitable as the midfielder is reported to be on the verge of joining Inter, with the player’s agent stating that Wenger can’t stop him. The midfielder joined Arsenal in July 2005 from Stuttgart for £11.2 million. “Alexander is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life. He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions,” Nikolai Shpilevski is quoted as saying in the Belarus press.
Ricardo Carvalho has admitted that he is unsure whether he will still be at Stamford Bridge next season, although he reminded press that he still has a contract with the club.
Andriy Shevchenko’s future at Chelsea has been under speculation for months, with a return to AC Milan seen as his most likely option. It now appears that Turkish outfit Fenerbache are interested in the Ukrainian.
Chelsea are considering revisiting their pursuit of Micah Richards. Jose Mourinho came close to signing Manchester City’s England defender 16 months ago for £18 million before the deal was vetoed by owner Roman Abramovich. Richards has been unsettled by the likely departure of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson but would cost at least £20 million.
In a summer spending spree that would eclipse all before it, Chelsea are also willing to part with £79 million on just three players: Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid for £25 million, £27 million on bringing Frank Ribery from Bayern Munich and £27 million on VFB Stuttgart’s Mario Gomez.
Speculation over Didier Drogba’s future has once again increased as Chelsea have been linked with a number of strikers in recent days. Drogba has been linked to a three-year deal with AC Milan to serve under Jose Mourinho if he replaces Carlo Ancelotti next season, while fans will be worried to hear that “a very big European club” is willing to splash £32 million on Petr Cech, according to the goalkeeper, who is attempting to negotiate a pay rise on his current £50,000-a-week contract.
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