Chelsea plan shock transfer of Manchester City's Edin Dzeko to replace Didier Drogba

Kampusbet  -  Chelsea plan shock transfer of Manchester City's Edin Dzeko to replace Didier Drogba 

Kampusbet -  Chelsea are planning a shock raid on Premier League title rivals Manchester City for Edin Dzeko.

Jose Mourinho will lose the muscular presence of Didier Drogba when the 37-year-old Ivorian’s contract expires next month.

And newly-crowned champions Chelsea are viewing powerful Bosnia & Herzegovina international Dzeko as the ideal replacement.

City will listen to offers for the 29-year-old - and a fee of £15million was quoted when interest from Juventus, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg was lodged.

But there have been no takers at that price, prompting Chelsea to believe that a bid of £10million may be accepted.

City, however, will be reluctant to sell to another English club and are likely to adjust their valuation to flush out a foreign buyer.

Dzeko has endured a poor season at the Etihad, despite signing a new four-year contract last summer.

Bandar Bola - He has scored just six goals this season - only two more than he has scored for his country - and has fallen behind £28million Wilfried Bony in the fight to partner Sergio Aguero in the City attack.

Dzeko, a £27million recruit from Wolfsburg in January 2011, has a knack of what one City insider describes as “heavy goals.”

His first City strike was a late equaliser in a FA Cup tie at Notts County - and helped propel City to their first trophy in 35 years. And he also scored at crucial times during the Blues’ two title-winning campaigns.

Mourinho is looking for a player who can ease the burden on Diego Costa, with club legend Drogba on his way out of the club for a second time and Loic Remy only impressing in flashes.

Dzeko’s knack of scoring important goals has caught the Chelsea manager’s eye.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was right to snub Chelsea, says former teammate Jamie Carragher

Kampusbet -  Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was right to snub Chelsea, says former teammate Jamie Carragher

Judi Online - Steven Gerrard was right to snub Chelsea - even if cost him a Premier League winner's medal.

So says his former teammate Jamie Carragher ahead of the Liverpool legend's last game against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho tried to bring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge in 2004, while the Special One revealed last week he also tried to sign him for Inter and Real Madrid.

But Carragher believes Gerrard was right to stick on Merseyside, despite the gap in his trophy cabinet.

"If he had gone to Chelsea, Inter Milan or Real Madrid, he would have had more medals but I know that those medals would not have meant as much as the ones he won with Liverpool," the Kop hero told Mail Online.

Bandar Bola - "In terms of turning down Chelsea in 2004, it was 100 per cent right, the right thing for him to do. You do not move to a rival. 

"You fight to get your club to the top and that is what he did the year after, when we won the Champions League in Istanbul.

"Real Madrid is a different situation. There might be a point in years to come when Stevie might think to himself; 'I could have played with Zidane and Figo rather than Jamie Carragher!'"

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini set to stay at the Etihad but Blues remain keen on Pep Guardiola

Kampusbet -  Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini set to stay at the Etihad but Blues remain keen on Pep Guardiola 

 Judi Online - Manuel Pellegrini is set to remain as Manchester City boss - but their long-term target is still Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola yesterday declared he will see out the remaining year of his deal at Bayern Munich, dashing City's hopes of luring him to the Etihad.

City are now ready to let Pellegrini remain for the last season of his three-year contract at the Etihad and move again for Guardiola next summer.

Guardiola was the only coach City would have axed Pellegrini to make way for and believe their next-best option is to stick with the Chilean.

Pellgrini has engineered a recovery at City after their title bid fizzled out and they are favourites to finish second.

Although the Blues will finish the season empty handed, City's chiefs feel the players are more to blame because they have under-performed.

Big names like Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko have been disappointing and City feel most responsibility lies with them.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain are also conscious of the impact the FFP penalty has had on their recruitment.

Bandar Bola - Pellegrini's diplomacy is in contrast to the combative Roberto Mancini and the Italian was sacked in 2013 for his wars with everyone at the club as much as his failure that season.

Pellegrini is the opposite to the fiery Mancini and he is still liked by his players and respected by officials at the club.

Pellegrini also remains committed to playing the attacking brand of football City chiefs want to see at the Etihad.

The former Real Madrid boss has yet to be told his fate at City and that will come when he has his end of season review in Abu Dhabi with Khaldoon.

But it is understood City believe their best policy may be to let Pellegrini continue at the helm and try again for Guardiola in 12 months' time.

The Blues do not fancy any of the other candidates out there such as Rafa Benitez or Carlo Ancelotti and do not favour appointing a caretaker boss for next season, such as EDS coach Patrick Vieira.

Jose Mourinho reveals he tried to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan

Kampusbet -  Jose Mourinho reveals he tried to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan 

Judi Online -  Jose Mourinho has revealed he tried to sign Steven Gerrard not only as Chelsea manager – but also when he was at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

 

Mourinho paid a personal tribute to Gerrard ahead of Chelsea's game against Liverpool on Sunday, saying he helped him become a better manager.

It will be the last time they lock horns before the Liverpool captain leaves Anfield for LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

It is my time to honour the champion,' said Mourinho. 'It's my time to honour Steve Gerrard and say with opponents like him that I am the manager I am. I learn with my players and my best opponents.

'With my players' doubts and qualities and with my best opponents with the problems they give me and way they make me think and analyse them and study how to play against them. 

Bandar Bola -  Steven Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies and for sure my dear enemy, the one who made me a better manager. 

To stop him or try to stop him has been very, very difficult. I lost against him, I won, I drew. I am very sad it's the last time I play against him. I need people like him to make me a better coach.

'I am sad he is leaving the same as our Frank Lampard, but Frank is a Chelsea legend and it's a different situation because Steven was always on the other side.

 I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to Real Madrid but he was always with the enemy. I want to honour him and I hope Stamford Bridge has the same feeling.

'It's too late to sign him. He can't play against Liverpool. He's done an amazing career with his people. He refused to play in other big clubs, other big leagues to play only for Liverpool and this is a feeling that stays together. Who knows I play against Steven as a Liverpool manager someday.'

Over the years there has been a great debate as to who is the better play,  Gerrard or Frank Lampard, and Mourinho added that he felt they were both on another level. 

'I always thought that both were the best two No 8s in Europe.

'From 2004 to…. I will not say until 2014 but until 2012 they were the best two No 8s.

'In my opinion and my vision with them you don't play a No 10 you play with one No 6 and give the freedom to the two No 8s because they score more goals than any No 10.

'Lampard with 30 goals a season and Gerrard with 25, they score more goals together than the No 10 and the striker.'

Manchester United reach agreement to sign Memphis Depay in £25million transfer

Kampusbet - Manchester United reach agreement to sign Memphis Depay in £25million transfer

Judi Online - Manchester United have won the race for Memphis Depay after the player and his agent held successful talks with Louis van Gaal over a deal worth £25million.

United and PSV have confirmed the transfer and Depay, 21, will move to Old Trafford - pending a medical - when the transfer window opens in June.

United said via the club's official Twitter page: 'Manchester United has reached an agreement with PSV Eindhoven & Memphis Depay for the player's transfer, subject to a medical. 

'Pending the successful completion of the medical, the deal will go through once the transfer window opens in June.'

PSV boss Philip Cocu announced the move to his squad on Thursday morning. 

Sporting director Marcel Brands told PSV's official website: 'We are very proud of this upcoming transfer. Memphis has gone through all the teams of the PSV youth academy and has played an important part in us winning the league title this season.

Bandar Bola - 'He's a wonderful product of our club. He'll make a good transition to a magnificent club in a beautiful competition. We obviously lose fantastic player, who is of great value to the team but we are very happy to grant him this move.'

Despite reports that the player and his entourage had already visited United's Carrington training complex for meetings with club officials, it is understood no meetings had taken place.

United posted their interest formally last month when executive vice chairman Ed Woodward telephoned PSV Eindhoven.  

Liverpool had been leading the way for Depay as PSV allowed them to open talks with the Holland international while Paris St-Germain also discussed interest.

However, Depay and his agent Kees Ploegsma are understood to have met van Gaal over the last few days to discuss a prospective move to Old Trafford and how he would fit in to United's plans.

Depay has scored 24 goals in 35 games this season. PSV are already considering Heerenveen's Swedish U21 international winger Sam Larsson as his replacement.

Liverpool to give Premier League champions Chelsea a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge next week

Kampusbet - Liverpool to give Premier League champions Chelsea a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge next week 

Judi Online -  Liverpool will form a guard of honour for newly-crowned champions Chelsea next week – despite the reservations of Jose Mourinho, report the Liverpool Echo.

Brendan Rodgers confirmed on Friday the Reds would applaud the Londoners on to the field before next Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge should they have already won the title.

Chelsea duly sealed their first championship since 2010 with a trademark 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace, with tradition dictating in their following game the title winners are applauded on to the field by their opponents.

Given the deep-rooted animosity between Liverpool and Chelsea that has been exacerbated during the past decade, it will no doubt be an uncomfortable experience for the visitors.

And Mourinho would sooner the tribute was overlooked unless sincere.

“I don’t like it,” he said. “I think, in Spain, they did it for us at Real Madrid.

“If it’s tradition, that’s no problem for me. But you can show respect for the winner in many different ways.

Bandar Bola - “If some of them don’t want to be there and they are there just because somebody tells them to be there, maybe it’s a bit artificial.”

But Rodgers, who was on the coaching staff at Stamford Bridge for four years, believes the salute would be deserved.

Asked if Liverpool would give Mourinho’s men a guard of honour, Rodgers said: “Absolutely. This club is based on dignity and respect and class.

“Whoever is the champions, that’s what you do.”

Liverpool, though, will be spared a further uneasy moment with Chelsea not expected to be handed the Premier League trophy until their home game against Sunderland on the final day of the season.

Daniel Sturridge heads back to the US to see specialist as Liverpool striker looks set to miss rest of the season with hip injury

Kampusbet - Daniel Sturridge heads back to the US to see specialist as Liverpool striker looks set to miss rest of the season with hip injury

Judi Online - Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has gone to see a US specialist in Boston to determine whether he needs surgery to sort out a troublesome hip problem.

The England international has played only twice since he sustained the injury against Manchester United on March 22 and manager Brendan Rodgers last week cast doubt on whether the forward would play again this season.

That now seems even more unlikely after Sturridge was booked in to see Dr Peter Asnis, an orthopaedic surgeon connected to the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise.

It is the second time that 25-year-old Sturridge has been sent to America because of injury. Last December he spent time in Los Angeles and then Boston, working on the thigh problem that kept him out for five months.

Rodgers will now step up attempts to sign a new striker this summer to challenge Sturridge on a regular basis. PSV Eindhoven’s Memphis Depay is their No 1 target and the Holland international seems keen on moving to Anfield.

Sturridge has endured a year to forget because of fitness issues — as has full back Jon Flanagan, who has been ruled out for up to nine months by further knee surgery.

Apart from 31 minutes of Steven Gerrard’s charity match in March, Flanagan, 22, has not played for Liverpool at all this season because of knee and cartilage problems.

Flanagan is out of contract this summer, although Rodgers said recently that Liverpool were looking to sort out his future.

Bandar Bola - The Liverpool-born defender was a revelation when he came into the team last season, impressing on both sides of the back line.

He ended up going away to gain experience with England before last summer’s World Cup and would have been in contention to play for the Under-21s in the Czech Republic this summer had he not missed so much football.

Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top six have been jeopardised by poor recent form but they need to qualify for Europe to can stand a chance of signing James Milner from Manchester City on a free transfer when the window opens.

Milner has attracted interest from Arsenal and Roma but he wants to stay in the North West and Liverpool have been confident of winning the race for the 29-year-old.

Milner, however, wants to join a club involved in European competition.