Ben Haim Goes To City

Israel international defender Tal Ben Haim has joined Manchester City.
The 26-year-old will arrive at City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He is Mark Hughes' second signing since he took over as manager.
It is the Israel international central defender's second high-profile switch in just over a year after he moved to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers in June 2007.
His move is still subject to a work permit although that should be academic given his regular appearances for Israel, which included two matches against England during the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Ben Haim will now link up with Brazilian striker Jo, who joined City earlier this month for an estimated 19 million euros.
Although a Bolton regular, he only started 13 times at Chelsea, where he was unable to displace John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho at the heart of the Blues' defence.
He faces another tough fight for first-team football, with City captain Richard Dunne and rising England star Micah Richards the current central defensive partnership at the club.
However, Ben Haim can also play at full-back.

Hughes, speaking on Tuesday, admitted City needed cover at the back. "With so many games to play this season it is important to get the balance right.
"Last season the team was weakened when Micah Richards and Richard Dunne were not in it. We are trying to address that."

Kenyon Tells Also Rans To Keep Up

Peter Kenyon risked a major backlash after he told clubs trying to break into the 'big four' next season to "get their houses in order".
Despite the big difference in turnover between the Premier League's elite and the rest, Kenyon says that it is a problem for those lower clubs to solve. "Other teams in England should be knocking on our door – teams like Tottenham, Newcastle, Villa, Everton," he said.
"It's more about them getting their houses in order rather than us coming down to their level." Since 2003, the only other top four club, apart from Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool has been Everton – and then only once. "If you look across Europe, other major leagues are dominated by one, two or three teams,'' Kenyon added. ''So it's too easy to say this is a Premier League issue. What's important is the way we distribute our TV revenues, which is very equitable."
Despite the money owner Roman Abramovich has invested, Chelsea can point to their success in boosting their turnover as evidence that a club can grow significantly in a commercial sense. According to Deloitte, they are now the world's fourth richest club, behind Real Madrid, United and Barcelona. Their next challenge is to win with style.
"The first objective was to improve the infrastructure and win trophies," said Kenyon before today's game against a Malaysia Select XI. "But football's about entertainment and we want to be a team that wins things in style."

Malouda Has A Future At Chelsea

Florent Malouda's agent claims Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has told him the Frenchman is in his future plans at the club, says eatsleepsport.com.

He had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after a difficult first season in which he struggled for first-team action under Jose Mourinho and then Avram Grant, after joining for a £13.5million fee from French champions Lyon last summer. Italian Serie A side Roma have been heavily linked to Malouda, but the player's agent, Pierre Frelot, says he wants to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea and has been told by Scolari he will get a chance to prove himself.

"After a meeting that was held with Peter Kenyon and Luiz Felipe Scolari, I would very much like to clarify that the latter assured us that he has always appreciated Florent," Frelot told l'Equipe."He counts on him. Florent is convinced that after a first season where his adaptation was interrupted by injury and changes with the coach, he will be able to fully express his talent."

Bosingwa Out For Three Weeks

Chelsea's new right-back Jose Bosingwa will miss the start of the Premier League season after tearing a thigh muscle, says viewlondon.co.uk.
The 25-year-old will be missing for at least three weeks after suffering the injury 20 minutes into his Chelsea debut in the game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical.
The £16.2 million defender underwent a scan in Macau on Friday and has returned to England for treatment.
"He is out for two weeks minimum for treatment and he won't be able to play for three weeks," said Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager.
"At the moment, he is out of the first game against Portsmouth."
Meanwhile Scolari has defended Chelsea's pre-season schedule after there were reports that the players are unhappy with the amount of travel involved and the time away from home.
They have played two games in China, and now travel to Kuala Lumpur to take on a Malaysia XI.
Then they will move onto Moscow where they will face Lokomotiv Moscow and either AC Milan or Seville in the Railway Cup.
"These games are important for me,' Scolari said.
"If I was able to choose the opposition, I would choose this team [Chengdu Blades] at this time in our pre-season. I do not want to play against strong teams, because my players are not fully match fit.
"Because I am new to Chelsea, I need to learn about my players. I have an idea about my players, but I need to work every day with them to learn more. For us, this is match training.
"We are here not only to play games, but for other things and for me it is better as I build my team for the games in Russia, and after Russia for the first game, against Portsmouth."

Chengdu Blades 0 Chelsea 7

Joe Cole's double strike helped Chelsea to a 7-0 victory over the Chengdu Blades in their pre-season friendly in Macau.

The game, played in a humid atmosphere, helped raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake appeal.
Nicolas Anelka began the scoring in the 15th minute when he picked up a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross and beat the keeper to knock it in from a yard out.
Wright-Phillips was the instigator again in the 31st minute when he crossed to Anelka who then passed to Saloman Kalou who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes later Frank Lampard added his long-range effort and at half time the Blues were 3-0 up.
In the 53rd minute boss Luiz Felipe Scolari brought Joe Cole on for John Terry. Two minutes later Cole scored his first goal. Then, ten minutes later, substitute Franco Di Santo also scored an easy tap-in goal just moments after coming onto the field.
England winger Cole scored his second in the 82nd minute also from a Wright-Phillips cross, which he whipped through his legs and into the back of the net.
Finally after playing a pivotal role all match, in the 84th minute Wright-Phillips scored a goal of his own, when Florent Malouda's drive ricocheted off his back and into the goal.
In their final match in Asia Chelsea will face a Malaysian Select XI in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday before they head off to Russia next week.

Guangzhou Pharmaceutical 0 Chelsea 4

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea reign began with a comfortable win over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical as Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored to secure the win over the Chinese Super League side, reports the Daily Mail.
The Blues dominated the first game of their five-game pre-season tour of Asia and Russia at Guangzhou Olympic Stadium, with the only concern for Scolari seeing new signing Jose Bosingwa substituted after 20 minutes with a slight thigh injury after a brief but impressive debut in the right-back position.

Scolari fielded a strong starting side, with Deco making his debut in midfield alongside Lampard, who played the entire game, with Joe Cole and Andriy Shevchenko sitting the game out because of minor injuries.
Lampard and Deco pulled shots wide in the first few minutes as Chelsea completely took control with the Portugal international dominating midfield and international team mate Bosingwa looking lively pushing forward down the right flank.
Michael Essien also drilled a shot just over the bar after 14 minutes.

The Blues were rewarded as they opened the scoring six minutes later when Mikel Jon Obi's defence-splitting through-ball caught the home side flat-footed, allowing Kalou to coast in unmarked to fire into the bottom corner across Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai.

Guangzhou came into the game as the game progressed, to the delight of the passionate 35,000 crowd, but Chelsea's chances continued to come as Essien was denied from close range before the Ghanaian saw a snap shot from outside the area saved by Li.
As half-time approached, Nicolas Anelka hit the post from inside the area, while at the other end Petr Cech turned a free-kick from Xu Liang onto his upright.
Following five half-time changes, substitute Wayne Bridge saw his deflected shot hit the post before Lampard showed brilliant vision to double the lead by chipping Li from 30 yards, the 'keeper only just outside his six-yard area.

Half-time substitute Florent Malouda shot wide twice in quick succession before Di Santo, a second-half substitute, struck the upright after threading his way through on the edge of the area. With 12 minutes left Frenchman Malouda broke down the Guangzhou left and pulled a low cross across the face of the goal for a sliding Di Santo to convert.
Wright-Phillips sealed the win in the closing minutes with a shot on the turn from inside the area.

Essien Signs Five Year Deal

Michael Essien handed Chelsea another major boost by signing up for another five years in a deal worth around £80,000-a week, according to the Daily Mail.
Essien, who joined from Lyon for £24.4m three years ago, committed his future to Chelsea until 2013 despite interest from Real Madrid and Inter Milan this summer.
The 25-year-old only signed a five-year contract last year, but such is Chelsea's determination to keep him that they made him an improved offer.
Essien, established as one of the best midfielders in the world during his time at Stamford Bridge, is now looking to help the club bounce back from the disappointments of last season, failing to win a trophy for the first time in four years.
The deal for Essien is a strong message of intent from the Blues and makes him the third player to have agreed new terms in a week after Wayne Bridge and Petr Cech.
The Ghana international, who is set to play in Chelsea's first game of their pre-season tour in Asia against Chinese side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical tomorrow, is now looking forward to competing for his place in Chelsea's midfield.
With Frank Lampard, Deco, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel as well as Essien in contention, Manager Luiz Felip Scolari has quite a choice.
Essien is happy that Deco, who joined from Barcelona this summer for £7.9m, has arrived and believes it will improve his game.
He said: "When the competition gets keener it brings out the best in players. Last season we signed new players and people thought I could lose my place. But I fought and stayed to maintain it."

Maka Moves On To PSG

Claude Makelele has moved on a free transfer to Paris Saint Germain.

After five years at the Bridge the player who made the midfield holding position his own, many pundits calling it 'the Makelele role', has moved back to France to see out his illustrious career.

His contribution to the Blues success should not be underestimated and it is uncertain to what effect Mikel or Essien can step into his vacant role. Remember that Real Madrid had a couple of seasons of underachievement when he left for the Bridge.

Thanks for your contribution Maka and the best of luck for the future.

Kaka Keen On Blues Move

Kaka's advisor, Diogo Kotscho, insists that the Brazilian is desperate to join Chelsea, according to skysports.com.
The Milan playmaker has long been touted as a potential summer transfer target for the Blues, with reports now suggesting that discussions have taken place between the two clubs in regards to a possible £80million switch.
The 26-year-old was always seen as being an unobtainable object of desire, with the Rossoneri unwilling to lose a player who provides their greatest creative influence.
However, with Ronaldinho having now been unveiled at San Siro and with their financial difficulties well-publicised, the Italian giants appear willing to enter into negotiations with potential suitors.
Should the World Player of the Year move to Stamford Bridge he would be reunited with Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who handed him his international debut as a 20-year-old back in 2002 and included him a Brazil squad which went on to lift the World Cup later that year.
Any deal seems certain to break the world record transfer fee, which currently stands at £46million, but Kotscho is confident that a deal can be done which will allow Kaka to take on a new challenge in the Premier League next season.

"Real Madrid offered 90 million euros (£71million) last summer and Milan did not even think about the bid," Kaka's personal assistant told The Guardian.
"This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen.
"Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved.
"The move would represent a significant increase in Kaka's salary, on top of the 10 per cent transfer fee that goes straight to the player anyway - some 15 million euros (£12million).
"Chelsea are the club to be at right now. They are building a team to win everything."

Ben Haim Off To Eastlands

Tal Ben Haim will bring his miserable 12 months at Chelsea to an end next week and join Manchester City for a fee £5million, according to the Mail online.
He has agreed a four-year contract worth around £40,000-a-week and is looking forward to a new challenge.
Ben Haim, 26, joined on a free transfer from Bolton last summer, but struggled for form at the start of the campaign and barely featured once Jose Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant as manager in September.

He made just 13 appearances and was fined two weeks’ wages after criticising fellow Israeli Grant.
He said: 'If I knew Grant was going to be the coach I would have signed for another club. It was Mourinho who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me.

'The fact is while Mourinho was the coach, I played most of the games and people who know me know I would not have come here to be a reserve. I knew nothing good would come for me with Grant as Chelsea coach.'
Ben Haim has been training with the squad but will miss next week’s pre-season tour of China.
Right-back Juliano Belletti, is wanted by Benfica on loan.
Belletti joined from Barcelona for £4m but the arrival of Jose Bosingwa for £16.2m in May means he is surplus to requirements.

Bos Keen To Oppose Gamst

New Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa says that the player he is relishing facing the most next season is Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen, according to Teamtalk.com.
Bosingwa was introduced to the press at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday after finalising his £16.2million move from Porto.
And the Portugal right-back is eager to pit his wits against Norwegian Pedersen.
He said: "The Premier League is a very strong league and has many good players, but it will be great to play against Pedersen from Blackburn.
"Obviously it will be a pleasure to play against clubs with fellow Portuguese players but I like the way Pedersen plays.
"He's very fast and likes to bring others into the game. He crosses the ball very quickly. I like his style."
Bosingwa was also linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, but insists the only club he held talks with were the Blues.
He added: "I came to the club that showed more interest in me and I heard about United only in the press and I came to the right club who came to speak to me.
"I knew there was interest from other clubs but never spoke to United or any other club."
It means he'll be playing against Cristiano Ronaldo rather than with him, should the Portugal winger remain at Old Trafford rather than move to Real Madrid.
"It's good for the English league to have him here but it's not my decision," Bosingwa said.
"Usually we train in the same team so I don't have to face him in training!"

Blues Tracking Moutinho

Once again Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon have produced another top talent to follow in the ranks of Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and Miguel Veloso. The newest homegrown star is their attacking midfielder Joao Moutinho who is at the centre of a bidding war between a number of the biggest clubs in Europe.
The 21-year-old is already captain of his club side (the 2nd youngest player to ever do so) and a regular in the Portuguese national team. He also played in all 4 of Portugal’s Euro 2008 matches (3 starts). Press reports earlier this summer suggested Everton’s David Moyes had stolen a march on the rest of the interested clubs by preparing a bold £16million raid on Sporting. However, now Chelsea are being strongly linked to the player who played under Felipe Scolari in the national set-up, according to website http://www.footballpools.com/.
However, Manchester United, Arsenal and most recently Barcelona are also casting admiring glances at the player. He has a proven track record at every level of club and international football. He made his Sporting first team debut at 17 and was brought into the national side at 18. It’s only since the 2006 World Cup that the youngster is now regarded as one of the key players in the squad.
In his first season in the Sporting first team the club reached the Uefa Cup final before losing out to Russian side CSKA Moscow. However, by beating 2 English clubs in that run, Middlesbrough & Newcastle, he was brought to the Premier League’s attention and his progress since has been monitored very closely. Despite being a creative player he has shown great consistency belying his age. Moutinho has made 108career League appearances (105 starts) for Sporting and scored 13 goals. He has also won 17 caps (1 goal) which, considering the type of player he is and the abundance of attacking talent which is produced by his nation, is impressive.

Wayne Signs New Deal

Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge has signed a new four-year contract, according to the official website
England international Bridge, 27, made just 19 appearances last season but new manager Felipe Scolari was keen for the former Southampton player to stay.
"I am pleased for Wayne that he has committed his future to Chelsea," Scolari said. "He is one of the best professionals at the club and I very much like his playing style."

Riccy Decides To Stay

Chelsea have won the battle to keep defender Ricardo Carvalho at Stamford Bridge, according to the Daily Mail.
The Portuguese put the Blues on alert last month when he said he would hold talks with chief executive Peter Kenyon over his future after Euro 2008, having confessed he wanted to work with Jose Mourinho again at Inter Milan.
The 30-year-old went away on holiday following Portugal's quarter-final exit and then defender Alcides, who has been on loan from Chelsea at PSV Eindhoven, claimed he was finally going to get the chance to play at Stamford Bridge because Carvalho was going.

However, the former Porto centre-half returned to training last Thursday and has since had the chance to hold talks with new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Carvalho is a huge fan of Scolari, having worked with him for five years in his role as Portugal coach, and is now happy to stay.
He said: 'Now I am back it is good to see all the people again, fighting for the club together like we have for the past few years.'

Chelsea's bid to keep the influential defender, who joined from Porto for £19.85million in 2004, has been helped by the arrival of two more Portugal teammates in West London - right-back Jose Bosingwa and midfielder Deco.
Carvalho agreed a new five-year contract last season but is now hoping to negotiate a pay-rise from £80,000-a-week to bring him closer to captain John Terry's salary of £130,000.
But Chelsea are set to lose 35-year-old midfielder Claude Makelele, who is close to agreeing a two-year deal with Paris St-Germain.
Defender Wayne Bridge, who started only nine League games last season after Ashley Cole cemented the role of first-choice left-back, has also been strongly linked with a £5m switch to Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been told they will be able to sign Robinho this summer by his agent Wagner Ribeiro, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United for Real Madrid.
The Brazil international today claimed he wants to work with Scolari at Chelsea, just 24 hours after saying he was staying at the Spanish club.
He said: 'It would be a dream for me to work with Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world.
'I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea.'
Robinho was on the fringes of the Brazil squad when Scolari was in charge of the national team between 2001-2.

Big Phil Makes Personal Plea To Ronaldinho

Chelsea have made a late bid to win the race for Barcelona star Ronaldinho, according to tribalfootball.com.
The Sun says boss Phil Scolari asked Ronnie, 28, to join in a personal call yesterday.
But Scolari's plea may have come too late as AC Milan believe they have agreed a three-year, £18m contract with the Brazil star.
Chelsea are prepared to pay the Spaniards a £15m fee and Ronaldinho £17.4m over 3 years.
Manchester City made the top bid with £25m but the player does not want to go to Eastlands.

Mourinho ups bid for Lampard to £10m

According to the Daily Mail, Inter Milan are expected to make a new £10million bid for Frank Lampard and test Chelsea's resolve to force the midfielder to see out his contract.
They had a second bid of £7.95m turned down on Tuesday and president Massimo Moratti is ready to negotiate directly with owner Roman Abramovich to try and bring an end to the saga.
Their manager, Jose Mourinho, is determined to be reunited with Lampard and hopes his old bosses at Chelsea can be convinced to let him go.
Lampard has become increasingly desperate to leave the Bridge after his demands for a five-year contract worth £150,000-a-week were ignored and could consider buying out the last 12 months of his current deal.
Article 17 of FIFA regulations for the status and transfer of players states that a player can do this if the contract was signed before he turned 28 years old and at least three years have elapsed since making the agreement.
The England international would risk upsetting FIFA, however, as the rule also says that a player has to inform the club that he wants to leave within 15 days of the final league game of the season.

But Andy Webster escaped serious punishment when he left Hearts for Wigan after the deadline two years ago and was only banned for the first two games of the last campaign, while the Scottish club received just £150,000 compensation.
Sepp Blatter believes no club should keep a player if he wants to leave.

But Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck insists the club won't change their position and the contract offer to Lampard will remain in place.
He said: 'As is his right, he has decided at the moment not to accept that contract - but there is one year remaining on his current contract and we expect and hope he will honour that contract.
'Even for the course of that year there is still the opportunity for him to stay because the offer we have made him remains on the table.'

Frank will stay says Scolari

Big Phil has said Frank Lampard has told him he wishes he stay at Chelsea despite reports to the contrary.
"I met Frank Lampard and we spoke for 15 minutes, and after this, when we finished, I was very happy because I asked if he wants to stay and he said 'yes, I (will) stay at Chelsea'," Scolari said on Chelsea TV ahead of his first official press conference.
Scolari revealed he has also spoken to striker Didier Drogba who is another to have been linked to a move to Inter. But he could not give a definite answer about the striker's future with the club.
Although the former Brazil and Portugal coach will make every effort to keep hold of Lampard, he is also anxious to bolster the squad before the new season gets under way, so more signings seem imminent.

Deco On Board

Deco became Big Phil's first signing yesterday. He arrives with a wealth of experience in Europe having been at Barca for the past four seasons, signing a two year contract.
This looks a pretty good short term signing for one of the best players of Euro 2008 and as well as being a bargain buy at £8m, I think he can do a job for us over the next two seasons.
A tidy piece of business. I wonder who's next.