ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has had his assets FROZEN by the European Union, a week after the UK government did the same.
The Chelsea owner has come under intense scrutiny for his financial involvement in Russia, who are currently at war with Ukraine.
The Blues will be allowed to finish the season whether they are sold or not.
And Thomas Tuchel will remain with the club until then, but has refused to give any commitment beyond the summer.
Meanwhile it has been reported that Roman Abramovich has given the green light to a sale of Chelsea with bids to be taken next week.
This is despite the Russian not being able to earn a penny from any sale due to sanctions.
Elsewhere, Romelu Lukaku is reportedly ready to take a pay cut to rejoin Inter Milan.
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Bernardo says City still in pole position
Bernardo Silva claimed City are still in a better position than Liverpool – despite giving their rivals a way back into the title race, writes CHARLIE WYETT.
After City’s stalemate at Selhurst Park, Jurgen Klopp’s team can move within a point of the top if they win at Arsenal tomorrow.
Silva , whose team entertain the Reds on April 10, said: “We should have scored but we didn’t. So yes, a very frustrating game but it is still a long way to go – nine games.
“We’re still in a good position. It’s still better to be in our position than Liverpool. They still have to play in our stadium as well. So yes, it’s going to be exciting.
“We actually controlled the game well apart from one or two times that we lost possession and the counter attacks they didn’t create much.”
Boss Pep Guardiola said: “We were 14 points ahead and they had two games less. They have one now. I said many times that there are many games to play. We have to win games.
“We had our chances, we couldn’t convert them but sometimes it happens.
“There are nine more games to play. I know we have to win a lot of games but there are no regrets in the way we played and with the team.
“It was an amazing performance in a difficult stadium with the grass not perfect and we were there all the time. We had a good game.”
Man City target Haaland tipped for Spain
Manchester City still face a battle for Erling Haaland as Real Madrid and Barcelona believe he prefers a move to Spain.
Pep Guardiola’s champs want to do a deal this summer to sign the Borussia Dortmund striker, who has a £64million release clause in his contract.
That puts City in pole position as their major rivals Madrid and Barca would rather wait for at least another 12 months.
Both the LaLiga giants are convinced Spain is the 21-year-old’s preference at this stage of his career.
City are likely to tell him his dream of playing in Spain — where he already owns a property — can still be realised in a few years’ time.
Haaland’s dad Alf-Inge, who played for City from 2000-03, is happy for him to follow in his footsteps.
Dortmund plan to have one last go at trying to talk Haaland into staying for another 12 months, by making him the best-paid player in their history.
That would play into Real’s hands as they want to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG this summer.
EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea could lose next generation
Chelsea faces losing its next generation of stars unless the Government changes its mind on signing new contracts.
Several of the club’s brightest talents emerging from the academy are up for new deals and face an uncertain future under the current terms of the operating license.
UK Government sanctions placed upon Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic prohibit the signing of new players and also negotiations to keep existing ones.
Manager Thomas Tuchel is not only concerned about the effects on the first team but right down the pyramid at Stamford Bridge.
England Under-17 World Cup winner George McEachran is a budding talent whose contract is about to expire having been at Chelsea since the age of eight. Teenage midfielder Xavier Simons is one of the most highly-rated in the U-23 squad and is also due to hold contract talks soon.
A Blues insider told SunSport: “Everyone is focussed on the players in the first team who are out of contract but the ones we feel really sorry for are the youngsters.
“Now is the time when the boys start talking about new contracts with the club and everyone is in the dark. They are the ones coming through and if Chelsea are not allowed to sign new contracts with them it’s a huge blow to both parties.”
Carragher blasts ‘hypocritical’ Chelsea fans
Jamie Carragher has BLASTED Chelsea fans for being hypocrites while criticising the club’s bullying approach throughout Roman Abramovich’s reign.
The Liverpool legend was defending himself after being criticised for suggesting Manchester United should try to poach Thomas Tuchel given the Blues’ troubling situation.
Carragher revealed he had a few “heated discussions” with Chelsea fans outside Stamford Bridge following their win over Newcastle. But he has stood by his initial statement, suggesting Chelsea have acted in exactly that manner for the previous 19 years.
Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “The reason why I think it is a little hypocritical of Chelsea supporters is that if teams, whether that’s Manchester United with the manager, or people thinking they can get Chelsea players by taking advantage of the situation they’re in – Chelsea have been doing it for 20 years.
“We can throw our money about and we can get who we want.
“We’ll go and get Peter Kenyon [former United CEO]. We’ll go to Liverpool and destabilise that club for two summers [trying to sign Steven Gerrard].
“We’ll get Ashley Cole, Invincible, won everything at Arsenal. We’ll get caught tapping up, doesn’t matter we’ll pay the fine.
“They win the Youth Cup every year or they get in the final, not because they’ve got the best coaches or the best academy – because they’ve gone and taken the best players from every club within the country.
Crystal Palace 0 Man City 0
The Eagles are the only team not to concede against City in the Prem this season but Pep Guardiola’s men still went four points at the top after this draw.
City piled on the pressure and chances but Palace defended well and almost nicked a late winner.
Read the reaction HERE.
And ourt match report HERE.
H/T: Crystal Palace 0 Man City 0
Kevin de Bruyne hit the Palace bar in and end-to-end start to the second period.
But City got strongly on top from the hour mark.
FOR LIVE COVERAGE FOLLOW OUR MATCH BLOG HERE
Government fans blast Chelsea fans’ pro-Roman chants
Chelsea fans have been ordered to STOP chanting their support of Roman Abramovich – with the UK Government calling it ‘completely inappropriate’.
Blues fans showed their backing for the Russian billionaire during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge with chants and banners.
But Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson has slammed the behaviour amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “We recognise the strength of feeling around people’s clubs…
“But that does not excuse behaviour which is completely inappropriate at this time.
“I think people can show passion and support for their club without resorting to that sort of stuff.”
Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale earlier this month – much to fans’ dismay.
The oligarch slapped a £3billion price-tag on the club but was quickly slapped with sanctions over his relationship with Vladimir Putin – who ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
H/T: Crystal Palace 0 Man City 0
City wasted plenty of chances in this first-half stalemate.
FOR LIVE COVERAGE FOLLOW OUR MATCH BLOG HERE
Barca ruled out of Haaland race
Barcelona have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Erling Haaland with the crisis club told they are £120MILLION over their spending limit, writes DAVE FRASER.
LaLiga announced new spending limits for all 20 top-flight clubs on Monday.
And Barca have been told they must make FOUR TIMES as much on player sales and wage cuts than they’re allowed to spend in a huge blow to their summer plans.
The financially-strapped giants have been told they are £121m over the permitted limit – the only club to be red, with rivals Real Madrid allowed to spend up to £622m – a massive £743m difference.
Under LaLiga’s financial fair play rules, clubs over the limit must obey the 1:4 ratio to all transactions – meaning they must make four times what they spend.
For example, should they spend £63m on Haaland – his rumoured release fee – they would have to make a staggering £252m first.
LATEST: Crystal Palace 0 Man City 0
FOR LIVE COVERAGE FOLLOW OUR MATCH BLOG HERE
LIVE: Crystal Palace vs Man City
Pep Guardiola’s champs will go six points clear of second-placed Liverpool in the Prem if they win at Crystal Palace (ko 8pm).
Here are tonight’s teams:
PALACE: Guaita, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Kouyate, Schlupp, Gallagher, Olise, Mateta, Zaha
MAN CITY: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish,
FOR LIVE COVERAGE FOLLOWOUR MATCH BLOG HERE
Abramovich faces new ‘corrupt deals’ claim
More murky details about the deals behind Roman Abramovich’s fortune have been uncovered, BBC’s Panorama team will claim at 8pm tonight.
The Beeb say their investigation has ‘uncovered new evidence about corrupt deals’ as Abramovich became a Russian oligarch.
The billionaire has had his assets frozen and is banned from being a Premier League director due to his links with Vladimir Putin.
His wealth came from buying an oil firm off the Russian government in a rigged auction in 1995.
He paid about £190million for Sibneft but sold it back to the Russian government for around £10nb in 2005.
Abramovich’s lawyers deny there was any criminality.
- Roman Abramovich’s Dirty Money is on BBC1 at 8pm and then on the BBCiPlayer.
Utd linked with summer bid for Kane
Manchester United are plotting a summer move for Harry Kane, according to reports.
Kane, 28, is open to leaving Tottenham after failing to secure a move to Manchester City last year.
But with The Citizens now intent on signing Erling Haaland instead, United now have a chance to land Kane.
And the Red Devils are considering a fresh approach for the England captain, report The Mirror.
They may even be able to persuade him to move to Old Trafford by appointing Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine has a strong relationship with Kane from their time together at Spurs, with Pochettino still keeping in contact with the striker.
Kane has remained patient for his blockbuster move but Daniel Levy could allow him to leave in the summer. It could be the last chance Spurs have to rake in a massive sum for Kane as he will only have two years left on his contract by then. He will also turn 29 in the summer so will gradually begin to lose value.
Up to 200 investors eyeing Chelsea
There could be as many as 200 investors interested in buying Chelsea, according to reports.
Sources have told Sportsmail there has been huge interest in taking the reins at the London-based Premier League giants.
Suitors are reported to have until this Friday’s deadline to submit a ‘detailed background report’ on all of their backers.
And in the new climate of greater scrutiny surrounding ownership of football clubs, interested parties are being asked to outline their ‘motives’ before they enter the bidding process.
American investment banking giant Raine are representing Chelsea on the sale of the club.
Sportsmail reports that Blues director Marina Granovskaia is also offering interested groups guidance during the process.
They add that bidders have been given a list of details they must submit with a ‘cash bid of close to £3bn’.
Their submissions will be made available to Raine, the Premier League and the government.
Abramovich looking dishevelled
Roman Abramovich broke his cover at a Tel Aviv airport today – moments before jetting off to Turkey.
The sanctioned Russian was spotted looking dishevelled in Israel’s Ben Gurion airport shortly before his jet took off for Istanbul.
Photos show the Chelsea owner sitting in the airport’s VIP lounge with a face mask pulled down over his chin.
He can bee seen peering at his phone while glancing overhead.
It’s understood the billionaire drove from his £65million mansion towards the airport earlier in the day.
And his luxury Gulfstream G650ER jet – registered LX-Ray – landed in Turkey just after 3pm this afternoon.
Abramovich, who also holds Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, was among seven Russian billionaires added to the British sanctions list on Thursday as part of efforts to isolate President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This morning, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the country’s financial, banking and aviation authorities were looking into the issue of Russian oligarch’s in the country.
In a statement made while on a visit to Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, he said: “Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries.”
‘Man Utd will want Tuchel’
Manchester United will want Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea boss could be interested, says Jamie Carragher.
The Red Devils are on the search for a new manager to take over in the summer and have been heavily linked to Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.
But now Chelsea’s future has been thrown into uncertainty it is possible Tuchel would be open to jumping ship.
He has stated there is no way he will leave before the summer and is committed to the club but Carragher argues he may not be telling the whole truth about how he feels.
Carra told Sky Sports: “I think it is realistic in that if you are Manchester United why wouldn’t you ask that question?
“Unfortunately with the situation that Chelsea find themselves in, other clubs will be looking at their situation in terms of players or managers going forward, that’s the nature of the beast.
“He’s one of the best managers in world football and United are looking for one but I think he’s come out and said that he’s committed to the club and I’m sure that’s what he’s got to say.
“But there are uncertain times for Chelsea because you don’t know what the ownership is going to be towards the end of the season. He’s 100 per cent the most important person you have to keep in place as a new owner. In terms of Thomas Tuchel, they have a guy – and there’s very few of them in world football – who can compete with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.”
Roman at Tel Aviv airport
Under-pressure Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been pictured at Tel Aviv airport VIP lounge as his private jet reportedly heads for Istanbul.
Government sanctions are making it tough for the Russian oligarch to sell up.
But it’s thought Chelsea could have new owners by the end of the month.
Blues give ticket update
Chelsea have provided an update on the ticketing situation surrounding their upcoming Men’s and Women’s matches.
Last week the club was banned from selling match tickets as part of the sanctions placed on Chelsea as a result of Roman Abramovich having his assets frozen.
Chelsea have revealed they are in talks with the Government and pressing for them to allow tickets to be sold ahead of big ties in the Champions League and FA Cup.
A club statement on the current situation reads: “We are pressing the Government to allow our supporters to have access to tickets.
“Meetings are taking place daily in search of a resolution. In addition, the Premier League and FA are also discussing with the Government the sporting integrity issues raised if they do not permit fans to attend.
“We are aware of the high level of frustration our supporters are facing over this issue, and we are doing everything we can to resolve it as soon as possible.”
Forest hopes chopped by injuries
Nottingham Forest have been rocked by a double injury blow ahead of Sunday’s glamour FA Cup quarter-final tie with Liverpool, writes GRAEME BRYCE.
Defensive duo Max Lowe and Steve Cook are out of tomorrow night’s promotion tussle with QPR at the City Ground and will also miss Sunday’s showdown with Jurgen Klopp’s in-form Liverpool.
Both players limped off during Saturday’s 4-0 home win against Reading and manager Steve Cooper confirmed the pair face six weeks on the sidelines in a crushing double-whammy for the Championship side.
Cooper confessed: “The Reading victory came at a cost with the two injuries.
“Both are out for six weeks.
“It is a blow for us and the two lads but we just have to get on with it and utilise our squad.
“Unfortunately these things happen and it is important we look after the boys who are injured and don’t dwell on it too long, or it becomes an even bigger problem.”
There was some good news for Forest fans after it was confirmed homegrown midfielder Ryan Yates has penned a new deal until 2025.
Raphinha ‘hunted by Barca, Chelsea and Liverpool’
Barcelona are leading the race to sign Leeds star Raphinha, with Chelsea and Liverpool also interested, according to reports.
The Brazilian forward, 25, has been in superb form this season and is expected to leave the relegation battlers in the summer.
And Barcelona lead the race for Raphinha with his agent Deco already working on a deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The LaLiga giants are yet to launch an offer with Leeds facing the drop.
Jesse Marsch won his first match in charge of the Yorkshire side in this third game after Joe Gelhardt bagged a crucial, last-gasp winner against fellow strugglers Norwich.
But with Leeds still locked in a fight to avoid relegation, Barcelona know they could be able to land Raphinha cheaply in the summer.
Barca have the added advantage of Deco being Raphinha’s agent.
The former Portugal star spent four years at the Nou Camp as a player and still works as a South America scout for the Spaniards.
Saudi Media NOT linked to country’s rulers
Potential new Chelsea owners Saudi Media have NO direct ties to the Saudi Arabian rulers, writes JOSHUA JONES.
And they plan to invest heavily into the women’s team as they look to continue their success in the WSL and in the cups.
Saudi Media have reportedly bid £2.7billion for the Stamford Bridge club and want to renovate the ageing stadium.
The Blues are desperate to complete a quick sale following the sanctions placed on them and current owner Roman Abramovich due to his links with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Headed by Chelsea fan Mohamed Alkhereiji, the private consortium are receiving ‘support in finding funding and backers’ from Mohammed bin Khalid Al Saud.
Khalid Al Saud is chair of the Saudi Telecom Company, which is a state-owned company in which the Public Investment Fund owns shares.
Chelsea could be sold this month
Chelsea could be sold by the end of March, according to the American investment firm in charge of arranging a buyout.
The Blues will need a new Government licence for the sale after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned and his assets frozen.
The deadline for bids has been delayed until this Friday, with more than 20 serious parties reportedly interested.
American investment firm Raine Group sent a letter to potential buyers on Saturday insisting it would be ‘moving forward with the sale process’.
Lowdown on Saudi billionaire eyeing Chelsea buy-out
In just over a day, Chelsea have gone from being financially paralysed to potentially saved – thanks to Mohamed Alkhereiji, writes DAVE FRASER.
Roman Abramovich put the Blues up for sale earlier this month but was quickly hit with sanctions due to his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Initially, the oligarch was banned from selling the club.
But after Abramovich agreed to forgo any proceeds made from the sale of Chelsea, the government allowed him to push on with his bid to move on from the West London club.
And already a bid has come in, with private consortium Saudi Media Group – led by Alkhereiji – submitting a £2.7billion offer.
Abramovich had hoped for £3bn, but could accept the offer in the interest of a quick sale.
Rivalling British billionaire Nick Candy and a number of other parties including Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly, Alkhereiji is just the latest to take an interest in running the Stamford Bridge show.
Who is Mohamed Alkhereiji?
Alkhereiji is a Saudi Arabian businessman… and Chelsea fan.
He runs the Saudi Media Group – the party behind the £2.7bn bid – and is CEO of the parent company Engineer Holding Group, founded by his father, Abdulelah Alkhereiji.
Alkhereiji has ties to the UK, though, having studied at the Cass Business School in London and also spending three years working at Deutsche Bank.
HERE’S OUR FULL LOWDOWN ON ALKHEREIJI
Chelsea set to keep Barca target Cesar
Cesar Azpilicueta’s potential free transfer from Chelsea to Barcelona has hit a snag, writes GARY STONEHOUSE.
The Blues are currently unable to offer any new deals to their players or sign any new ones due to the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Spaniard Azpilicueta was one of several stars at the club who were due to become free agents when their contracts expire in June.
Reports have been building for months that the 32-year-old Chelsea skipper was set to return to his homeland with Barcelona.
However, he will no longer be a free agent at the end of the season, according to Marca.
They claim that an automatic one-year extension in Azpilicueta’s deal has now become active.
Jorginho: It’s a good challenge
Jorginho insists Chelsea’s players are fully focused on matters on the pitch despite the ongoing uncertainty engulfing the football club off the field.
Speaking to the Chelsea website after the dramatic conclusion to Sunday’s 1-0 home win over Newcastle, the Italian said: “I thought we believed until the end and that is our group, it is our mentality.
“That is what we have been showing all the time now, we keep focussed, work hard and fight and push until the end. We deserved the win. It was a great result, atmosphere and great for the fans.
“It is a good challenge, to be honest, because we’re all human and when there’s so much going around it is not easy.
“We try to isolate sometimes, we try to focus on what we need to do because we are also professional as you could see we know our targets and we know what we’re here for. We’re fighting for that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
