Premier League - Paper Round: Chelsea ahead in Ribery chase

Eurosport - Mon, 23 Nov 08:50:00 2009

Chelsea are ready to outbid Real Madrid in their pursuit for Franck Ribery as Bayern Munich admit he could leave the club.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Bayern Munchen - Ribery - 0

According to The Sun, Chelsea are lining up a £45m bid for the France playmaker, and are willing to offer him a hefty £172,000 a week in wages, nearly £1m more than Real.

However, those figures do not take into account the much more favourable tax rates afforded to high-earning foreigners by the Spanish government.

Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed that the club turned down an offer from Chelsea in the summer. He said: "We never received an offer of over 100m euros. The best bid came from Chelsea - 65m euros plus (Jose) Bosingwa."

However, Hoeness admitted that it is up to Ribery to decide if Bayern can still match his ambitions, adding: "We want to create the conditions that give Franck the feeling that he can achieve something here in Munich. If he cannot see this potential, then he will leave."

Manchester City target Gennaro Gattuso will not be leaving Milan any time soon, according to Rossoneri coach Leonardo.

Leonardo said: "I often speak to Gattuso and it's not true. There is no truth in claims that he wants to leave."

The Daily Star reckon that Roy Keane is on the verge of being sacked as Ipswich Town boss after holding a series of meeting with the club's hierarchy.

Club sources claim there may even be a press conference today to announce the Irishman's departure, despite extending their unbeaten run to six matches at the weekend with the 0-0 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Daily Express is one of several papers carrying comments from Manchester United captain Gary Neville bemoaning the 'mollycoddling' of young players by agents in the game today.

Neville echoed his manager Alex Ferguson's comments by saying: "It is one of my pet hates when I see players who have agents that do everything for them.

"They don't know how to set up their own bank account, they don't know what they're spending their money on and they can't make their own decisions.

"Every footballer needs an adviser at some point. But a player doesn't need to pay between five and 15 per cent of his wages to a guy to set up a bank account, buy him a new fridge, or ask his club's chief executive for a pay rise."

Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening has revealed that he and his team-mates have been less than sympathetic to Irish team-mate Damien Duff following the Republic's heartbreaking elimination in Wednesday's World Cup play-off with France.

Greening told the Mirror: "Damien was pretty low, understandably, so to help him we have given him some stick!

"There was some banter when he first came in but he probably expected it. We brought up the fact he was seen crying on TV. He'll get some abuse for a few weeks and then it will settle down.

He likes to take the mickey as much as anyone so he is getting a bit back.

Eurosport

Comment 15 - 34 of 34

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. of cz he's talented plus money in the bag.. but now­ we needs young players like di maria n aguero for sure.­ not ribery. chelsea should know that.. pls carlo go n­ get di maria as soon as possible. .

    From KiD KasH, on Tue 24 Nov 5:20PM

  2. #33..jimmy greaves,ted drake,ron greenwood,roy­ bentley,ron harris,kerry dixon,ray wilkins,dave­ sexton,tommy docherty,george graham,peter bonetti,the­ chelsea pensioners,
    the shed end,micky­ greenaway,zola,ruud gullit,peter osgood,all history­ right there....

    From BOVRIL GATE.., on Tue 24 Nov 6:30AM

  3. ManU should sign him just before their next plane­ crash.

    From lincolngoh, on Tue 24 Nov 2:26AM

  4. Buy Buy every body and go out of buisness ,45million­ what a joke

    From ALAN, on Mon 23 Nov 7:37PM

  5. For that amount he ain't worth it.who would­ go?ballack,essien,j­ jole,deco,mikel,anelka,
    bosingwa??essien,j­ cole,anelka,can stay but would the others be missed?i­ would like to
    see scott sinclair playing more games­ when he's loan finishes, in the right team like­ ours and the quality that there is he could give arron­ lennon a run for the money,if he
    given the chance..

    From WHITEWALL, on Mon 23 Nov 7:17PM

  6. Chelsea Had A Ban But the ban ends january

    From Jack, on Mon 23 Nov 6:17PM

  7. ribery should join united we need another star player­ up front

    From WALTER, on Mon 23 Nov 5:28PM

  8. IMO BOSINGWA IS MORE VALUABLE THAN RIBERY!!

    From Vítor, on Mon 23 Nov 3:34PM

  9. the bloke has not played all season just look at the­ clubs he has played for he only stays for 2 yrs and­ then he's off we dont want ya anyway we have the­ new messi in kakuta thats if he is handled well which i­ think carlo will well do just look at young pato at­ milan

    From blueblood64, on Mon 23 Nov 3:02PM

  10. Why do we need a 28yr old man? Pls Chelsea buy boys to­ replace the oldies we have not an old guy for old guys.­

    Long Live My Beloved Mighty Blues!

    The Season Is­ Ours.

    Go Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Stay on top of­ 'em

    From Dynamic, on Mon 23 Nov 1:51PM

  11. Cant say the guy is worth that... hes 28 now too think­ chelsea could spend more wisely and buy 2-3 top players­ like silva, villa, even torres will prob go from­ liverpool now they are to play europa leauge cant see­ him stay hell want a top club like chelsea or Man­ united teams going for the top prise...

    From eamon, on Mon 23 Nov 1:38PM

  12. Cant say the guy is worth that... hes 28 now too think­ chelsea could spend more wisely and buy 2-3 top players­ like silva, villa, even torres will prob go from­ liverpool now they are to play europa leauge cant see­ him stay hell want a top club like chelsea or Man­ united teams going for the top prise...

    From eamon, on Mon 23 Nov 1:38PM

  13. The Real Giggs11,A True Red Legend,Arise. oh my god you­ are pathetic. really sad. you never have anything­ appropriate to add to a conversation. the funny thing­ is that you sound like a liverpool fans.

    you def aint­ an actual football fan so why do you come on here and­ put effort into your name and little picture? you are a­ small child that hasnt started school yet surely.

    have­ you ever said anything usefull ever? Id bet no.

    cant­ wait for your reply either, im sure it will say­ something like no history and some name calling. such a­ genius

    From Team Terry, on Mon 23 Nov 1:19PM

  14. RIBERY TO WIGAN PLZ

    From Le_Panache, on Mon 23 Nov 12:37PM

  15. AH IS TRY TO WORKS OUT WAT HORROR FLIM DIS MENS WAS IN,

    From paddybuysumore, on Mon 23 Nov 12:16PM

  16. i wod luv 2 c him in prem lg

    From Tim, on Mon 23 Nov 12:15PM

  17. Why the Hell do Real Madrid want him they already got­ the best Winger in the world Cristiano Ronaldo what­ they going to need 2 for ?

    Absolutely Ridiculous Man U­ should have bought him instead of valencia­ Nevermind.

    Damn Tax rates !!

    From Patrick, on Mon 23 Nov 12:14PM

  18. dont want him and dont need him. for that money get­ someone else. if we are to sign any midfield player­ they need to be young and already proven such as, ozil,­ navas and di maria. our midfield is set apart from­ getting older.

    I can think of planty players Id rather­ have than ribery and Im so thankfull they didnt accept­ that stupid offer in the summer

    From Team Terry, on Mon 23 Nov 12:03PM

  19. Chelsea is the right Team for u my man

    From Laurina Yonika Gortor, on Mon 23 Nov 12:02PM

  20. yeh right....WTF! you must be manu/city Fans, and i­ might be thinking CARLOS TEVEZ must be kate moss of­ football then! northeners

    From MIRE, on Mon 23 Nov 11:59AM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account