If the Sunday papers are to be believed Chelsea’s new owner is planning an assault on all four trophies next season by attempting to sign every player in the world!
News that one of Russia’s richest men has bought the Blues seems to have persuaded Fleet Street’s editors to allow their football reporters to make up whatever rumours they like.
So next season expect Chelsea’s first team to be: Cudicini, Gallas, Nesta, Campbell, Chivu, Vieira, Davids, Ronaldinho, Kluivert, Henry, Rooney. Subs: Kewell, Escude, Makaay, van der Vaart, Ambrosio.
And if you believe that you’ll probably enjoy next weekend’s seemingly inevitable tabloid expose that Roman Abramovich is planning to fund research into human cloning in a bid to sign youngsters Stanley Matthews, Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Bobby Moore and Diego Maradona.
Away from Stamford Bridge most of the mentions of Newcastle United relate to players we probably won’t be signing with Brett Emerton set to move to Blackburn Rovers, Ronaldinho on the verge of signing for Real Madrid, Stephen Carr staying at Spurs and Patrick Kluivert either staying at Barcelona or joining you’ve guessed it Chelsea.
One report did throw a new name into the frame, claiming AC Milan winger / wing back Serginho would arrive at St James’ Park with Laurent Robert heading for the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in exchange. But the same report did also claim that Inter’s Portugal international Sergio Conceicao could be a target, despite the club discounting the possibility months ago.