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    Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe launches late £4 billion bid for Chelsea, Rice ‘would prefer’ Blues transfer – takeover latest

    SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has lodged a late £4 billion bid to complete the takeover of Chelsea according to reports.The British billionaire approached Raine Group this morning and decided to submit a sensational last minute offer to own the club.
    Meanwhile, the winning takeover bid has been delayed once again – where potential owners will now have to wait until next week.
    And West Ham legend Tony Cottee believes that Declan Rice would prefer a move to Stamford Bridge over any of the other top clubs.
    Keep up to date with all of the latest gossip from the takeover in our live blog…
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    Bakayoko heading back to Bridge
    Chelsea are set to find themselves stuck with Tiemoue Bakayoko again.
    That’s because AC Milan will reportedly terminate his loan deal this summer – a YEAR early.
    Nicolo Schira claims Stefano Pioli has stopped picking Bakayoko to avoid triggering a £12.5million permanent deal clause.
    And the Frenchman is so far down the pecking order that Milan would rather boot him out of the San Siro altogether than keep him until 2023.
    Who is Chelsea bidder Ratcliffe?
    Chemical engineer Jim Ratcliffe was on the Sunday Times Rich List 2021 with a personal fortune estimated at £6.33billion.
    And the Brit is now leading the race to buy Chelsea after submitting a mega £4bn bid on Friday.
    But just who is the billionaire entrepeneur?
    FIND OUT MORE HERE

    More on Jim Ratcliffe’s bid
    “We will continue to invest in the team to ensure we have a first class squad of the world’s greatest players, coaches and support staff, in the men’s and women’s games.
    “And we hope to continue to invest in the academy to provide opportunity for talented youngsters to develop into first class players.
    “We believe that London should have a club that reflects the stature of the city. One that is held in the same regard as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We intend Chelsea to be that club.
    “We are making this investment as fans of the beautiful game – not as a means to turn a profit. We do that with our core businesses. The club is rooted in its community and its fans. And it is our intention to invest in Chelsea FC for that reason.
    “No further comment will be made from Sir Jim or INEOS during the bidding process.”
    Full statement on Ratcliffe bid
    “Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, has made a formal bid for Chelsea FC, for £4.25bn. £2.5bn is committed to the Charitable Trust to support victims of the war, with £1.75bn committed to investment directly into the club over the next 10 years.
    “This is a British bid, for a British club. We believe that a club is bigger than its owners who are temporary custodians of a great tradition. With responsibility to the fans and the community.
    “That is why we are committing to spending £1.75bn over 10 years that will be for the direct benefit of the club.
    “We will invest in Stamford Bridge to make it a world-class stadium, befitting of Chelsea FC.
    “This will be organic and ongoing so that we will not move away from the home of Chelsea and risk losing the support of loyal fans.”
    Tuchel excited by Lampard meeting
    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed he is looking forward to finally meeting Frank Lampard when the Blues take on Everton on Sunday, and wants to thank him for the introduction he gave him to life at Stamford Bridge.
    “He sent me a very kind, respectful message after I took over at Chelsea that meant a lot. I was a huge fan of him as a player, and he is – and will remain – a legend at our club,” said Tuchel at his press conference ahead of the weekend.
    “We didn’t have the chance to go out for lunch, and then he took the chance to take charge of Everton. He took an assistant from us, Joe Edwards, too and we were not so happy! I’m just joking.
    “We will meet some friendly faces [on Sunday] with Joe and Ashley Cole, and Frank, who I have never met in person.
    “We need the points, and they need the points urgently as well. It is an exciting week for me personally. Everybody tells me about the atmosphere at Goodison Park, how emotional and how tough it is to play there.”

    Breaking: Ratcliffe makes £4bn bid for Chelsea
    Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a dramatic late bid to buy Chelsea, according to Matt Dickinson at The Times.
    The British billionaire approached Raine Group this morning and submitted an offer in the area of £4billion.
    The owner of petrochemicals giant, Ineos, met with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a bid for consideration.
    “We put an offer in this morning,” Ratcliffe told The Times. “We are the only British bid. Our motives are simply to try and create a very fine club in London. We have no profit motive because we make our money in other ways.”.
    Ratcliffe, a season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge, wishes to use £1.75bn of his offer in order to upgrade the team and stadium.
    Winning bid announcement delayed again
    The wait to learn the identity of the new Chelsea owners will go into next week after it was suggested that there is still some confusion as to the allocation of funds from the sale.
    New York Times reporter Tariq Panja tweeted that government have been left frustrated and unsatisfied by the answers to some of their questions.
    Credit: @tariqpanja Twitter
    Frank-ly depressing fixture for Toffees
    Chelsea return to Premier League action on Sunday – and could strike a dagger through the heart of one of their favourite sons.
    The Blues travel to Everton, now managed by their record goalscorer Frank Lampard, and anything less than a Toffees win will leave the Merseyside club in the relegation zone with five games to play.
    Lampard will become the tenth former Chelsea manager to take charge of a Premier League match against the Blues, and the signs are not good for the 43-year-old.
    Only one of the previous nine former Chelsea bosses has won their first such match (D1 L7),
    The exception is Claudio Ranieri, who won 2-1 with Leicester in December 2015 on his way to winning the title with the Foxes.
    Cottee: Rice would prefer Chelsea
    Declan Rice’s preference would be to join Chelsea, according to one West Ham legend.
    Tony Cottee believes that out of the top clubs tracking the Hammers captain, it is Stamford Bridge that is his most likely destination.
    In a conversation with MyBettingSites, TC said: “I think if you honestly ask him the question, [Declan Rice] would probably prefer to go to Chelsea.
    “Declan was at Chelsea as a youngster, left there at the age of fourteen to sign for West Ham.
    “His best friend is Mason Mount, so there are lots of reasons for him to go to Chelsea.”
    Breaking: Kerr named Footballer of the Year
    Chelsea’s Sam Kerr has been named as the Football Writers’ Association as Women’s Footballer of the Year.
    The Australian has struck 18 goals in 18 appearances in the WSL this season, helping her club to close in on the league title.
    Former Blues player Mo Salah picked up the men’s award, the Liverpool ace winning it for the second time.

    Madrid see James as Real deal
    Real Madrid are at the front of a pack of European clubs hoping to land Chelsea star Reece James.
    Nizaar Kinsella understands that the Spanish giants have already spoken to the player’s representatives about bringing the wing-back to the Bernabeu.
    Naturally, the Blues hope to keep their England star happy at the Bridge, and are keen to extend his contract that currently runs until 2025.
    However, James is one of the lowest-paid players at the clubs, and could well be tempted by a bumper deal with one of the biggest clubs in the game.
    It is suggested that Real would prefer to do a deal for the defender in 2023 so as to concentrate on attacking areas this summer.
    Boehly bid leading the charge
    The bid headed by LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly is in the lead to buy Chelsea.
    Sources close to the consortium have told the Daily Mail that they expect their offer for the football club to be announced as the approved option in the coming days.
    However, those involved with the rival bids of Sir Martin Broughton and Steve Pagliuca have not given up hope, and hope to convince Raine Group before a final decision is made.
    It was revealed yesterday that the three bidders have been asked to stump up an extra £500million in order to help boost a £1billion charitable donation to be made upon the sale of the Stamford Bridge outfit.
    Roy so keen on James
    Former Manchester United star Roy Keane believes that Chelsea are lucky to have a player of Reece James’ ability.
    The Irishman, speaking in his role as pundit for Sky Sports, revealed himself to be a huge fan of the defender following last night’s 1-1 draw between his former club and the Blues at Old Trafford.
    “What a player Reece James is,” said Keane during the analysis of the game.
    “He looks like a boxer. His distribution, movement, strength. He seems like a nice kid too. He’s a clever lad, could play in any position.
    “Chelsea are a lucky club to have him. Outstanding.”
    James picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance during the Premier League encounter.

    Good morning Chelsea fans
    Thomas Tuchel’s men played out a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. 
    Marcos Alonso handed Chelsea the lead with a striker’s finish.
    But Cristiano Ronaldo equalised minutes later to share the points.
    Antonio Rudiger is edging closer to his Real Madrid free transfer with his medical being planned for the next few days, according to reports.
    The Chelsea defender’s Stamford Bridge contract expires this summer.
    And after Thomas Tuchel confirmed he would not be signing an extension, it is widely expected the centre-back will join Real for free.
    Former Chelsea and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has said that Man Utd midfielder Paul Pogba doesn’t have “the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.”
    And finally, the three prospective owners of Chelsea have been asked to increase their offers by £500million by outgoing billionaire Roman Abramovich.
    Martin Kleinman at Sky News reports that the Russian owner is demanding the additional money to help augment a £1billion charitable donation to be made upon the sale of the football club.
    The increase in price effectively guarantees “a minimum headline price for the club of £2.5billion.”
    Chelsea verdict
    Chelsea suffered yet more dejavu as they dominated Manchester United but paid the price for lacking a goalscorer. 
    Kai Havertz, signed for over £70million from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, missed two golden chances in the first half at Old Trafford.
    The German is not an out and out striker but has led the line well at times for the Blues this season. 
    But his squandered chances in Manchester prove Chelsea are still being haunted by a lack of clinical finishing. 
    Last year’s Champions League winners might have thought they had solved that problem after signing Romelu Lukaku in the summer. 
    But the club-record £97.5million signing is edging towards a second flop spell at Stamford Bridge.
    ‘I hope Ten Hag is watching’
    A deflated Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment of Manchester United during their 1-1 draw with Chelsea. 
    The Red Devils legend tore into Ralf Rangnick’s flops, slamming the players as “embarrassing” despite the two teams sharing the points.
    Neville blasted: “Man United are the type of team for any football fan watching that you almost want to get beat.
    “They need beating, they set a really poor example around work ethic and trying – and all the things that parents and teachers tell their children every single day.”
    Full time – Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
    It’s all over!
    The points are shared in Manchester.
    United did grow into the game in the second half and it was their main man who came to the rescue.
    Chelsea will feel frustrated. They should have put the game to bed in the first 45 minutes.
    Follow the live match blog HERE to follow all the post-match fallout
    Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
    79, James hits the post!
    The ball is fired into Mount who is aware and delicately flicks the ball on for James who curls the ball around the defender straight on to the post.
    So, so close. De Gea was beaten.
    Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
    74, Jorginho is on the deck receiving treatment after tweaking something.
    Chance to take on some liquid for the others.
    Meanwhile, Lukaku talks tactics with his boss.
    Follow the live match blog HERE
    Goals galore at Old Trafford
    Chelsea took the lead in the 59th minute through Marcos Alonso.
    The left-back turned in a striker’s finish.
    But the Blues’ lead didn’t last long with the returning Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for the second game in a row. 
    1-1.
    Kick-off – Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
    Fernandes gets this second half underway.
    No changes for either side.
    Will it be more of the same?
    Follow the live match blog HERE
    Half-time – Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
    Mike Dean blows his whistle and the players head for the dressing rooms.
    Rangnick scratches his head. What do you say about that?
    Chelsea have moved the ball well and created plenty of chances. But their forwards, Havertz in particular, haven’t been able to make them count.
    Manchester United have been lifeless, but somehow find themselves still in the game.
    Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
    21, Two chances for Chelsea, both coming down that right hand side.
    Jorginho sprays a ball across the area, but no one was quick enough to get there.
    Then Mount is freed before firing a ball across the box. But De Ge gets there before Havertz.
    Follow the live match blog HERE
    Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
    12, Rashford attempts to weave his way past Thiago Silva.
    The chance looks to have gone, but he keeps the pressure on and wins the corner off the Brazilian.
    The corner is headed back into the danger area where Ronaldo was waiting. He got up for the spectacular. But his bicycle kick doesn’t trouble Mendy in goal.
    Almost, almost incredible.
    Jesse Lingard dropped
    Jesse Lingard has been dropped from Manchester United’s matchday squad for personal reasons just days after calling their dressing room a “disaster”.
    Red Devils legend Paul Scholes recently let slip that Lingard told him about the sorry state of affairs behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
    Interim boss Ralf Rangnick took a backhanded swipe at Lingard following Scholes’ confession.
    And the German has now dropped the England international altogether for tonight’s clash with Chelsea at the Theatre of Dreams.
    Load more entries… More

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    Sir Lewis Hamilton ‘already out of running to buy Chelsea’ just a week after F1 legend and Arsenal fan’s takeover bid

    SIR LEWIS HAMILTON may be out of the running for Chelsea’s takeover just a week after joining the fray.Formula One great Hamilton and tennis legend Serena Williams invested around £10million each into a bid spearheaded by Sir Martin Broughton to buy the Blues.
    Sir Lewis Hamilton has been involved in the bidding war to take over at ChelseaCredit: Rex
    Sir Lewis Hamilton could be out of the running to buy ChelseaCredit: Rex
    However, Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law, has claimed that Broughton may be “out of the running” from the ongoing bidding war.
    That means the Mercedes superstar, who previously admitted he was bullied into supporting Arsenal, would also out of the equation.
    However, there is no official confirmation from Sir Martin’s camp at this moment.
    Hamilton recently said about his involvement: “Ultimately, I’m a sporting fan – it’s the biggest sport in the world and Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world and most successful.
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    “When I heard about this I thought, ‘Wow’. This is one of the greatest opportunities to be a part of, so great.
    “She’s [Williams] a phenomenal athlete and woman. We spoke about it and she asked me my thoughts and I told her I’d be a part of it, and she was excited to join.
    “We were contacted and Sir Martin took time to speak to me on the phone and explain his and his team’s goals if they were to win the bid, which was incredibly exciting and it very much aligned with my values.”
    This comes after Sir Jim Ratcliffe launched a last-gasp £4.25BILLION bid to buy Chelsea.
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    Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest people, also vowed to turn the West Londoners into a club as big as Real Madrid.
    The chairman of Ineos added that this is a true “British bid, for a British club” and wants to invest in the growth of the stadium, squad as well as the academy.
    LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly as well as Boston Celtics and Atalanta co-owner Steve Pagliuca are also in the running. More

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    ‘British bid for British club’ – Sir Jim Ratcliffe vows to make Chelsea as big as Real Madrid with world’s best players

    CHELSEA’S latest bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has promised to make the club as big as Real Madrid.Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest people, launched a last-gasp £4.25BILLION bid to buy the Blues and joined three other interested parties.
    Sir Jim Ratcliffe has promised to turn Chelsea into a club as big as Real MadridCredit: PA
    Outgoing owner Roman Abramovich is believed to require £2.5bn and Sir Jim has blown that figure out of the water as he aims to bring some of the world’s best players.
    The chairman of Ineos added that this is a true “British bid, for a British club” and wants to invest in the growth of the stadium, squad as well as the academy.
    A statement from Ineos read: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, has made a formal bid for Chelsea FC, for £4.25bn.
    “£2.5bn is committed to the Charitable Trust to support victims of the war, with £1.75bn committed to investment directly into the club over the next 10 years. This is a British bid, for a British club.
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    “We believe that a club is bigger than its owners who are temporary custodians of a great tradition. With responsibility to the fans and the community.
    “That is why we are committing to spending £1.75bn over 10 years that will be for the direct benefit of the club.
    “We will invest in Stamford Bridge to make it a world-class stadium, befitting of Chelsea FC.
    “This will be organic and ongoing so that we will not move away from the home of Chelsea and risk losing the support of loyal fans.
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    “We will continue to invest in the team to ensure we have a first class squad of the world’s greatest players, coaches and support staff, in the men’s and women’s games.
    “And we hope to continue to invest in the academy to provide opportunity for talented youngsters to develop into first class players.
    “We believe that London should have a club that reflects the stature of the city. One that is held in the same regard as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We intend Chelsea to be that club.
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    Sir Jim Ratcliffe launched a last-gasp bid to buy Chelsea and has big plansCredit: PA
    “We are making this investment as fans of the beautiful game – not as a means to turn a profit. We do that with our core businesses. The club is rooted in its community and its fans. And it is our intention to invest in Chelsea FC for that reason.
    “No further comment will be made from Sir Jim or INEOS during the bidding process.” More

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    Antonio Rudiger’s staggering Real Madrid wages broken down ahead of Chelsea star’s free transfer

    ANTONIO RUDIGER’S staggering Real Madrid wages reveal he is set to earn £50million over the course of his time at the Bernabeu.The defender will leave Chelsea at the end of the season when his contract expires.
    Antonio Rudiger is set to join Real Madrid as a free agent this summerCredit: Reuters
    Thomas Tuchel confirmed the pair sat down for “private talks” where it was concluded the German would not wait for the new owners to come in to renew his deal.
    And he looks on course to complete a free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer.
    Los Blancos are set to send doctors over to London in the coming days to complete Rudiger’s medical.
    And assuming all goes to plan, the ex-Roma defender will put pen to paper on an initial four-year deal, with the option of an extra 12 months.
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15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}READ MORE ON CHELSEA.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe launches LATE £4 billion bid for Chelsea, Rice UPDATE
    According to Marca, Rudiger is set to pocket £6.7m as a signing-on fee – split into quarters and paid annually.
    That will be added to his £7.6m basic pay per season, which works out as a net weekly wage of £145,000.
    Together, that will earn Rudiger £37m across the four seasons, around £9m less than his initial demands before he agreed to lower them.
    By comparison, the 29-year-old turned down a contract extension at Chelsea worth £200,000 per week before the club were hit with sanctions preventing any new deals from being signed.
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    On top of the £37m in wages, the centre-back is set to bag an additional £13m in commissions with Real Madrid – taking the overall total to £50m.
    Rudiger is viewed as the ideal signing for Carlo Ancelotti.
    He has vast experience, including winning the Champions League last season, as well as versatility and leadership qualities.
    The 50-cap international provides strong competition for Eder Militao – although his arrival could see David Alaba revert to left-back, where he spent much of his time with Bayern Munich.
    But boss Ancelotti produced a phenomenal response when quizzed about the transfer on Tuesday.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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    The Italian said: “Antonio Rudiger, who is this?
    “He is a Chelsea player until… he is still a Chelsea player, and I cannot say anything about this.” More

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    Antonio Rudiger edges closer to Real Madrid free transfer as they plan medical for Chelsea star

    ANTONIO RUDIGER is edging closer to his Real Madrid free transfer with his medical being planned for the next few days, according to reports.The Chelsea defender’s Stamford Bridge contract expires this summer.
    Antonio Rudiger is set to have his Real Madrid medical in the next few daysCredit: Alamy
    And after Thomas Tuchel confirmed he would not be signing an extension, it is widely expected the centre-back will join Real for free.
    Rudiger turned down a £200,000-a-week contract with the Blues before the club was hit with sanctions.
    According to AS, the German has helped play his part in the deal by dropping his wage demands to go to Spain – although he could bank £60million across the contract with a bumper signing-on fee.
    Now Los Blancos are arranging to send doctors over to London to complete his medical in the coming days.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Chelsea ‘confident of Kounde deal’, Blues in Antony transfer talks
    The only major injury in Rudiger’s career was the cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out of Euro 2016.
    And it is understood the Real bosses are confident the transfer will get completed.
    However, it would not get confirmed until after the end of Chelsea’s season.
    Rudiger looks on course to sign a four-year contract at the Bernabeu.
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    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    But boss Carlo Ancelotti produced a phenomenal response when quizzed about the transfer on Tuesday.
    The Italian said: “Antonio Rudiger, who is this?
    “He is a Chelsea player until… he is still a Chelsea player, and I cannot say anything about this.” More

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    Tuchel confirms he will STAY at Chelsea, Blues ‘confident of Kounde deal’, Antony transfer talks – takeover latest

    ANTONIO RUDIGER is set to join Real Madrid this summer, with boss Thomas Tuchel confirming he will leave Chelsea.But in better news, Tuchel himself has confirmed that he is going nowhere and is already looking forward to pre-season.
    Meanwhile Chelsea are stepping up their pursuit of Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.
    Chelsea are also said to be negotiating with Ajax over a potential deal for Brazilian winger Antony.
    And the next owners of the Blues must guarantee that they will stay in charge of the club for a minimum of TEN years.
    Keep up to date with all of the latest gossip from the takeover in our live blog…
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    Ex-right-back Johnson on Pogba
    Former Chelsea and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has said that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba doesn’t have “the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.”
    The Frenchman is out of contract this summer and can leave United for free.
    On Pogba, Johnson told GGRecon: “I wouldn’t go for him.
    “He’s a sensational individual and he’s won most of the things you can win in football but I don’t believe he has the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.
    “There’s no way Jurgen Klopp would sign him. No chance.”
    Years of Abramovich spending
    Here’s a breakdown of how much Roman Abramovich spent during his time as owner of Chelsea.

    Bidders told to up offers
    The three prospective owners of Chelsea have been asked to increase their offers by £500million by outgoing billionaire Roman Abramovich.
    Martin Kleinman at Sky News reports that the Russian owner is demanding the additional money to help augment a £1billion charitable donation to be made upon the sale of the football club.
    The increase in price effectively guarantees ‘a minimum headline price for the club of £2.5billion.’
    Those heading each of the consortia still involved in the process are said to have reacted positively to the request.
    The preferred bidder selected by Raine Group is expected to be announced by the end of this week.
    Gimenez added to wanted list
    Another hour, another new centre-back linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
    This time it’s Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez that Chelsea scouts are watching as the Londoners plan for life after Rudiger and Christensen.
    The Uruguayan defender has clocked up 245 appearances for Atleti since moving to Spain in 230.
    An international with 76 caps to his name, Gimenez is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and a fully focused man-marker.
    Mount revelling on the road
    With their forwards misfiring once again, Chelsea will be looking towards Mason Mount to make the different at Old Trafford this evening.
    And the England international rarely disappoints on the road, having played some of his best football this season away from Stamford Bridge.
    Mount has been directly involved in ten goals in his 14 away appearances this season, scoring five himself and laying on another five assists for his teammates.
    Only Mo Salah (18), Harry Kane (13) and James Ward-Prowse (11) have more combined goals and assists in Premier League away games this term.

    Chelsea also chasing Barca’s Kimpembe
    Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea’s scouting team have made reinforcements at centre-half a priority for when new owners take over at Stamford Bridge.
    The Blues expect to lose Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen this summer – and there’s the possibility that Cesar Azpilicueta also departs the club via the exit door.
    Without new signings, those departures would leave the Londoners short in central defence, and having to rely on a 38-year-old Thiago Silva.
    Sevilla’s Jules Kounde has already been sounded out by Chelsea officials, and now Goal see Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe as another option.
    Kimpembe has spent his entire career at PSG, but would be tempted by the challenge of the Premier League should his former boss come calling.

    Thursday night’s alright for rivals
    Manchester United and Chelsea once again do battle this evening but will do so for the very first time on a Thursday.
    The rescheduling of this clash means that it will become the 13th different Premier League fixture to have been played on all seven days of the week.
    It’s a novelty for the Blues with United set to become the first club that they have faced on each day.
    The Red Devils, meanwhile, have previously faced Aston Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday – Sunday.
    Chelsea only require ‘cosmetic surgery’
    Thomas Tuchel does not expect Chelsea’s new owners to splash the cash this summer, and instead insists that the squad are only in need of some ‘cosmetic surgery’.
    The German coach says a testing close-season awaits in rebuilding the club, but insists he is sticking around and is relishing the challenge.
    Asked what treatment the Blues require to move forward, Tuchel chuckled and replied: “Cosmetic surgery. I would be less concerned if we had still the same ownership, but as this is also in question, we are aware of the danger of a situation that is maybe a bit more complex.”
    He added: ‘It is demanding enough nowadays in football to lose this kind of quality in a back three, and to lose two key players for free.
    “It could be a very, very demanding summer.”
    Tuchel hopeful of trio return
    Chelsea travel to Manchester United this evening, hoping to cement third place in the Premier League – and another shot at the Champions League next year.
    The Blues can move eight points clear of Arsenal in fourth with a win, and further add to United’s miserable form in the process.
    Thomas Tuchel’s team have put in concerning performances themselves of late, but the German coach hopes he will have three key defenders back in the squad to help improve his struggling backline.
    “[Antonio] Rudiger was in training yesterday, and it’s the same for Reece James,” Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference yesterday.
    “Hopefully they can do the full training session today and give us a green light. We have hopes that they can be in the squad to play tomorrow.”
    “It’s the same for Andreas [Christensen]. We will need another examination because he felt sick, but he will come back to the training ground today.”
    Christensen and Rudiger are expected to depart Stamford Bridge while James has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
    Good morning Chelsea fans
    Chelsea are confident they can sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde in the summer.
    According to 90min, there is a mutual determination for the transfer to be completed. 
    The Blues are also keeping tabs on Arminia Bielefeld centre-back Amos Pieper, according to reports.
    Pieper, 24, has impressed in the Bundesliga this season despite Arminia heading for relegation.
    Finally, Chelsea players believe the sanctions placed on them by the government are costing them and could force Thomas Tuchel to quit, say reports.
    Boss Tuchel claimed the club have been left with their “hands tied” as Antonio Rudiger is set to leave.
    And the Times report the squad “fear” the complications could “push” Tuchel out the club too.
    Rom’s top of the earners list
    Summer flop Romelu Lukaku is Chelsea’s biggest earner.
    The Belgian forward picks up an eye-watering £325,000-a-week at the Blues.
    He could, however, already be heading for the exit door.

    New owner yet to be found
    A new Chelsea owner is yet to be found.
    Here’s a look at Roman Abramovich’s spending numbers.

    Chelsea confident on Kounde
    Chelsea are confident they can sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde in the summer.
    According to 90min, there is a mutual determination for the transfer to be completed.
    The Blues actively tried to sign Kounde last summer but were reportedly “blindsided” by a last minute increase in demands by Sevilla.

    Jorginho on Drogba
    Chelsea midfielder has revealed “it would be nice” if he could have played with the great Didier Drogba.
    The retired striker had so many memorable moments while playing for the Blues.
    Drogba scored the equaliser and winning penalty in Chelsea’s first Champions League trophy win in 2012.
    On Drogba, Jorginho said: “What a player. What a striker.
    “It would be nice if I could have played with him. It wouldn’t be bad to have his movements as a striker.”
    Mason Mount: Premier League stats so far
    Will Chelsea’s Mason Mount reach double figures in goals and assists this season in the league?

    ‘Antonio Rudiger… who is this?’
    Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti gave absolutely nothing away after he was quizzed about signing Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger.
    The legendary Italian boss was speaking after a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg tie away at Manchester City.
    Although Real Madrid lost the game, at 4-3 down heading to the Bernabeu there is still everything to play for.
    Rudiger, meanwhile, has told Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel he will leave the Londoners at the end of the season on a free transfer.
    Real Madrid have emerged as the frontrunners to snap up the centre-half in what would be a big coup.
    But after being asked about Rudiger following the defeat at the Etihad, Ancelotti went all coy.
    He answered: “Antonio Rudiger, who is this?
    “He is a Chelsea player until… he is still a Chelsea player, and I cannot say anything about this.”
    Ball-carrying midfielder
    Declan Rice is the leader in progressive yards carried outside of England’s “big six”.
    The England midfielder has carried the ball over 6,000 yards.
    Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin is behind on 4,663.
    If the “Big Six” were included, Rice would be behind Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Joel Matip.
    Rice is a summer transfer target for both Chelsea and Man Utd.

    Pie Eyed
    In case you missed it.
    Chelsea are keeping tabs on Arminia Bielefeld centre-back Amos Pieper, according to reports.
    Pieper, 24, has impressed in the Bundesliga this season despite Arminia heading for relegation.
    The defender is available on a free in the summer and the Blues have asked to be kept in the loop in regard to his availability, report The Mirror.
    There are several other clubs interested in Pieper, including Borussia Dortmund – with Pieper previously playing for the club’s academy.
    Premier League pair Newcastle and Southampton are also said to be interested in the German and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are keen to strike a bargain.
    Chelsea stars fear Tuchel could be forced to QUIT
    Chelsea players believe the sanctions placed on them by the government are costing them and could force Thomas Tuchel to quit, say reports.
    Boss Tuchel claimed the club have been left with their “hands tied” as Antonio Rudiger is set to leave.
    Rudiger, 29, is due to bank almost £60million with his mega move to Real Madrid.
    And the Times report the squad “fear” the complications could “push” Tuchel out the club too.
    The Stamford Bridge dressing room are concerned they are “powerless” as they wait for sanctions and this could harm the squad.
    How Man Utd could line up against Chelsea
    Ralf Rangnick is in the midst of an injury crisis at Manchester United and currently has just 14 senior players fit for action.
    The interim boss is down to the bare bones of his squad after confirming skipper Harry Maguire is not available for tomorrow’s clash against Chelsea.
    Maguire, who was benched for the trip to Arsenal, is sidelined with a “niggle” in his knee but there are fears he could be out for the season.
    Elsewhere Jadon Sancho misses out through illness, while Fred has not recovered from a hip flexor problem in time to feature.
    Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw, Edinson Cavani are all also set to miss out, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a doubt with an unspecified issue.

    Tuchel to stay at Chelsea
    Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that will stay at Chelsea next season.
    There has been some speculation recently around the idea of the 48-year-old leaving due to the sanctions placed on the club by the UK Government.
    However, when speaking to Adam Newson for Football.London, he said: “From pre-season next season we will give our very best and I will be fully involved with all my heart and my knowledge.”
    Tuchel on Ruben Loftus-Cheek
    During today’s press conference, Thomas Tuchel was asked about the impact of Loftus-Cheek.
    He said: “He needs to push himself to the limit. He had a bit of shy game like everybody else against Arsenal and not such a good half against Crystal Palace but stepped up in the second half in dribbling and ball recoveries and suddenly the crowd was there.
    “In general he is a shy and calm person but he needs to discover the monster in him and unleash this on a regular basis. It is necessary.
    “It is not enough to just be on the pitch, it might seem a good first step given his last years but we cannot let him think that is enough.
    “We try every day and I think we are successful given his development.
    “He needs to understand his potential and his physical capacity every day in training, he cannot let loose. He needs to play every match like a final.”
    Credit: Getty
    Tuchel on tomorrow’s trip to Old Trafford
    During today’s press conference, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: “I’m personally very happy to play against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
    “I arrive with a strong club. I’m happy to have this match and it will always be a big match for me no matter what form they are in.
    “That’s why we prepare in the best possible way. We focus on their last matches, we should not get confused by their lack of points, their squad is full of quality.”
    ‘He loves responsibility’ – Tuchel
    Thomas Tuchel has reflected on Antonio Rudiger’s upcoming departure from Chelsea, stating that the team are sad to see him go.
    He said: “I don’t think anybody likes it. He gives everybody confidence in the dressing room.
    “He is a unique character and plays on an outstanding level. He sometimes takes the focus towards him, he loves responsibility.
    “I don’t think anybody likes this decision but we have to accept it. Like it or not there will be life at Chelsea after Toni.
    “It is also the most important thing for us that it ends like it started, on the highest level.”
    Credit: Alamy
    Chelsea team news vs Man Utd
    Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ross Barkley will all be absent from the Chelsea squad ahead of tomorrow’s game against Man Utd.
    In his pre-match press conference, he said: “Kova will be out, Ben Chilwell will be out and Callum will be out.
    “Rudiger was in training yesterday, so was Reece James, we have another training coming and hopefully they will be fine.
    “Andreas needs another examination, but hopefully he will train.
    “Ross Barkley is sick and will not be in the squad.”
    Load more entries… More

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    Chelsea’s forgotten man Tiemoue Bakayoko set to return to Stamford Bridge with AC Milan ‘to terminate loan deal’

    CHELSEA flop Tiemoue Bakayoko will return to Stamford Bridge in the summer with AC Milan set to terminate his loan.The midfielder, 27, joined the Italian giants on a two-year loan deal with the option to make the move permanent last summer.
    AC Milan are set to terminate Tiemoue Bakayoko’s two-year loan deal in the summerCredit: Getty
    According to Nicolo Schira, Milan would have had to pay Chelsea an obligatory £12.5million fee based on Bakayoko making a certain number of appearances.
    Milan boss Stefano Pioli has reportedly stopped picking Bakayoko to avoid activating that clause, with the Frenchman’s last appearance coming on January 17.
    But Calciomercato report Bakayoko’s omission from the team is not based on an appearance clause in his contract.
    It is claimed such a clause – which is activated if the midfielder makes 15 appearances playing 45 minutes or more – comes into play next season.
    .css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1546w7m{background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 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    Instead, Bakayoko has fallen out of favour under Pioli and has just five starts to his name this season – so his loan deal will be cut short in the summer and he will return to Chelsea.
    It is unlikely he will stick around for long however having failed to make a single appearance for the Blues since 2018.
    He signed for Chelsea in 2017 for £40million but has spent the last four years out on loan.
    Bakayoko first joined Milan on a temporary basis for the 2018-19 season before making a loan switch back to Monaco – the club Chelsea signed him from.
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    A year at Napoli followed before Bakayoko’s unsuccessful return to Milan this season.
    He could be one of several departures from the club when the transfer window opens, along with Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta. More

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    Chelsea transfer blow as Ousmane Dembele is set to accept pay cut and stay at Barcelona in shock contract U-turn

    BARCELONA star Ousmane Dembele could stay at the Catalan giants after accepting a pay cut instead of joining Chelsea. That’s according to Spanish outlet Sport who claim he is willing to reject better deals from other clubs in order to stay with Barcelona.
    Ousmane Dembele could stay put at the Nou Camp in a dramatic U-turn.Credit: AFP
    They say a meeting will take place in the coming days between Dembele’s agent and Barca representatives as they aim to agree a deal.
    The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea but despite larger proposals on the table he is committed to staying at the Nou Camp.
    Dembele did want a new contract to be worth £67million but in a change of heart he may lower his wage demands.
    However, he could still leave the club as Barcelona are coping with financial difficulties.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Chelsea ‘confident of Kounde deal’, Blues in Antony transfer talks
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    They have had to rely on free transfers lately and the signing of ex-Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has helped convince Dembele to stay.
    Since Aubameyang’s arrival Barca have climbed the La Liga table up to 2nd place.
    Although there have been recent stumbling blocks after getting knocked out the Europa League in the quarter-final and suffering three home losses in a row.
    Chelsea were keen on the Dembele after he worked with Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund.
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    The Frenchman even named Tuchel as his favourite coach but the move could now be in jeopardy.
    Chelsea are currently unable to negotiate any new deals under the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich. More