Chelsea Transfer News: Falcao And Meyer In? Terry And Ramires Out?
Chelsea midfielder Ramires has reiterated that he is happy to remain at Chelsea, despite continued speculation about interest from Real Madrid. The Brazilian has impressed since joining from Benfica in 2010 and has been a clear favorite of Jose Mourinho at the beginning of his second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, with the midfielder playing every single minute of Chelsea’s Premier League season to date.
His performances are believed to have caught the attention of the man who signed him for Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti. However, Ramires claims not to have had his head turned.
“I see the interest of Real Madrid as a recognition of my good work in Europe, but I'm under contract with Chelsea and it would be unethical for me to comment,” he told Sambafoot. “For the moment, these are only rumors. I am very happy here. I am respected and part of the club's history. If I leave, Chelsea would have to make the decision. Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I have realized my dream here.”
Rather than lose any midfielders, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will doubtless be keen to add to his currently meager quota. With Marco van Ginkel out with a long-term injury and Michael Essien apparently out of the frame having only appeared in the League Cup since his return from a loan spell at Real Madrid, Mourinho is rotating between just Ramires, Frank Lampard and John Mikel Obi.
Yet, it is yet another attacking midfielder that Chelsea have been linked with in recent days. Schalke’s 18-year-old Max Meyer has made a big impression as injuries have meant him getting a run in the side this season. And the playmaker is believed to have caught the eye of Mourinho after appearing in both recent Champions League matches against Chelsea. Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt is aware of the interest.
“There is no official offer from Chelsea, but I have heard of the interest,” he told German magazine Kicker.
Meyer has also been alerted to Chelsea’s monitoring of him, but says he wants to remain with Schalke.
“It delights me that there is so much interest in me,” he explained, according to ESPN. “I’ve only read about it in the papers and I am the wrong person to talk to about it. My agent takes care of it.”
“I feel great here at Schalke, I get a lot of trust from the coach and the board,” he said. “I am under contract until 2017. We are having good talks, and I hope we can reach an agreement soon -- I think this year.”
Mourinho may be keener, though, to bolster to his firepower up front. The club were linked to a host of big-name strikers during the summer, but in the end settled for getting in 32-year-old Samuel Eto’o on a free transfer. Now, though, the Daily Mirror claims that Chelsea will reignite their long-standing interest in Radamel Falcao.
The Colombian ended up moving to Monaco in the summer for a massive fee, but the Mirror believes that Mourinho will cast his eye over him in a friendly against Belgium on Thursday, with a view to a £60 million January bid. The idea that Mourinho needs to scout Falcao seems somewhat odd, however, given that he would have seen him up close in Madrid for two years.
Another reported move that it is difficult to see coming to fruition is Chelsea captain John Terry joining Galatasaray. The Sun has claimed that the Turkish champions want Terry to sign a pre-contract agreement in January ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season. Galatasaray are now managed by Roberto Mancini, who pushed to sign Terry when he was Manchester City boss.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.
- MOST POPULAR IN Sports
