Posts Tagged ‘Marquee’

Thought of leaving Blues never crossed my mind, says Terry

• Defender confirms he will reject move to Eastlands
• Captain set for new deal worth £150,000 a week

John Terry is expected to agree an improved contract at Chelsea this week after the England captain finally broke his silence on Manchester City’s ambitious attempt to secure his services by committing his future to the London club.

City had a £30m bid for the centre-half rejected out of hand earlier this month but retained hope that Terry might agitate for a move to Eastlands for as long as he refused to comment publicly on the matter. The 28-year-old had privately been unnerved by Chelsea’s inability to secure a marquee signing this summer, and by two years of managerial upheaval since Jose Mourinho’s abrupt departure from the club, but insisted that leaving Stamford Bridge “was never a possibility”.

He had held talks with Roman Abramovich before the team’s departure for their four-match pre-season tour of the United States, but has since met the club’s owner and the chief executive, Peter Kenyon, for further discussions during their stay in the US as he sought assurances over their long-term vision at Stamford Bridge. Although Chelsea were always convinced that they would not lose the defender and believed they had an agreement in place with Terry, the player himself did not make up his mind definitively to stay until Saturday.

• Ancelotti insists he always knew Terry would stay
• Daniel Taylor on Terry’s decision to resist City’s millions
• Dominic Fifield: Chelsea’s pre-season is going to plan

The carefully worded statement released through Chelsea ahead of the team’s game against Club America will be the prelude for discussions to move on to securing the captain on improved terms likely to swell his weekly wage from £135,000 to nearer £150,000 – considerably short of what City were prepared to pay him – which should be signed before the end of the week. The new deal is not expected to extend the defender’s stay at the club beyond the three years still to run on his current contract.

“I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been,” said Terry. “Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer. When you are linked with any club, or with a manager [Mark Hughes] who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines, but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility.

“I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier. However, throughout this period there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea board and we all agreed that the timing of any statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas. What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea’s ambition remains as high as ever.”

That ambition has yet to yield either Franck Ribéry or David Villa, the players Terry suggested Chelsea should pursue in the wake of victory in the FA Cup final in May, though the club remain in the market for new blood. Securing their captain will provide a timely boost, particularly as Terry was genuinely intrigued by the project being put in place by the Abu Dhabi United Group at City, though Carlo Ancelotti insisted he was never perturbed by the issue. “There was not a problem because we have been sure that John stays at Chelsea,” said the Italian. “There’s never been a problem with this.”

The new Chelsea manager has already indicated he will build his team around its English core, typified by Terry, with the captain pinpointing the Italian’s influence as another reason to stay. “I am certain that he will take this club on to the next level,” he added. “Another important factor was knowing that Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us on to greater success. I am as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team for as long as I can.”

The implications for City are less encouraging, though a move for Terry had always been hugely ambitious. Hughes still hopes to secure the Arsenal centre-half Kolo Touré, a long-standing target, as he seeks defensive reinforcements to complement the mouth-watering attacking resources already lured to Eastlands this summer.

City endure more frustration as bid for Barça’s Eto’o flounders

• Deadline set for close of play tonight
• Club more optimistic about John Terry

Manchester City’s difficulties in trying to capture the marquee signings they crave have brought them to the point of abandoning their pursuit of Samuel Eto’o. The club have set a deadline of close of business tonight to get a definitive answer from the Barcelona striker. Otherwise they plan to withdraw their £25.5m bid.

Unless there is a late change of heart on the part of the Cameroonian, Eto’o’s name will be added to a lengthening list of superstars who have rejected City’s “project” despite being offered huge sums in wages. Franck Ribéry and David Villa have turned the club down this summer and in January, City aborted an attempt to sign Kaka from Milan for £93m.

Mark Hughes, City’s manager, had spoken of the need for “patience” over Eto’o but the player’s prevarication – he led City to believe he was keen before appearing to change his mind and then declining to give a clear answer – was beginning to affect City’s rebuilding plans. Eto’o wanted perhaps as much as 50% of the transfer fee as a signing-on fee, on the basis that he could leave Barcelona on a free next year. An already complex issue has been held up by his wrangling with Barcelona and City have decided they cannot devote any more time to it, even though Eto’o has also turned down a contract in Spain.

Garry Cook, City’s chief executive, said: “Samuel Eto’o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed. We now feel the time is right to pursue other avenues and we have a clear and strategic transfer plan, which we continue to follow.”

Cook was also referring to City’s belief that they might have better luck in their attempt to sign John Terry from Chelsea. Terry took part in a training session at Cobham and though Chelsea insist they are relaxed on the issue, City are encouraged by what they hear from the middle men they have employed to sound out Terry and his advisers.

City have signed Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry but Cook is desperate to bring in another established superstar.

“People have come to realise that you don’t go from 0-100mph in no time at all, and expect everything to fit into place,” he said. “We are talking about players of the very highest calibre on the global football stage. You can’t have everybody. The market has been relatively slow. People have been talking about lots of things going on, but the only people doing much are Real Madrid and City – wonderful company to keep, I might add.

“We have always said we will keep our workings internal, and don’t openly discuss any of that information. It’s a good strategy and maintains our dignity, because at the end of the day we will be playing with the very best clubs in the world and we want to behave like one of the best clubs in the world.”

Chelsea would like the issue resolved by the time they travel to the US for a four-game tour next Thursday.