TOM RICKETTS has stepped up his Chelsea takeover bid, despite protests from a section of Blues supporters over previous Islamophobic comments.
American Billionaire Ken Griffin, Ricketts' partner in the pursuit of the Blues, is reported to be flying to London to personally negotiate the deal.
Meanwhile Roman Abramovich is going cap in hand to celebrity pals for money after being sanctioned by the UK government, The Sun can reveal.
Rush Hour director Gerald Ratner is believed to be among the people the Chelsea owner has asked for a £1m loan.
And Antonio Rudiger reportedly wants to stay at Chelsea, but Barcelona and Real Madrid are hoping the German will be unwilling to wait to find out who the club's new owner will be.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the takeover.
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- Justin Lawrence
Ancelotti recovers from covid
Carlo Ancelotti will travel with the Real Madrid squad to take on Chelsea in the Champions League tonight.
Ancelotti was a doubt for the game after he contracted covid last week.
But he's recovered in time for the quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge, sources at Real have stated.
- Justin Lawrence
Pulisic on Chelsea contract
Christian Pulisic has revealed that he's happy at Chelsea and isn't worried about extending his contract with the club right now.
The American said: "Of course, I still have [two] years left on my contract. I’m feeling good, I’m happy here.
"We’ve been successful, we’ve done some great things as a team while I’ve been here.
“Currently, I am enjoying my football and I’m just going to finish the season out strong. (Extending my contract is) not something exactly I’m worried about right now but I’m feeling good right now."
- Justin Lawrence
Ziyech on Real Madrid clash
Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has warned his team-mates that facing Real Madrid today will be different that when the two sides met in the competition last year.
The Blues beat Real in the semi-final's before going on to win the European elite cup.
But Ziyech reckons Real have improved since then.
He said: "It’s a totally different situation from last year, a different atmosphere, a different time.
"They’ve [Real Madrid] also improved as a squad, with some young players as well, so it’s a totally different game than last year. We know how difficult it can be against Real Madrid.
"We played them in the semi-final last year and now we play them in the last eight, and there will be a crowd back.
"So the motivation will be different, the discipline should be different, but the most important thing is that you must enjoy it."
- Justin Lawrence
Gon when the season's over
Chelsea flop Gonzalo Higuain will retire at the end of the 2022 MLS season, his father Jorge has revealed.
Higuain's contract is set to expire in December, and his dad doesn't envisage him signing a new one.
Appearing on Argentine channel TNT Sports, he said: "I don't see him going back to Argentina. He finishes this year.
"At least what he told me, that he was retiring. He is retiring from the sport."
- Justin Lawrence
Courtois on Chelsea ownership batttle
Ex-Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois is hoping whoever becomes the Blues' new owners appreciate the club and keep them performing at the highest level.
Chelsea are still deciding on who will take over from Roman Abramovich.
And Courtois wants the best for his former side despite leaving them for Real Madrid who face Chelsea in the Champions League today.
He said: "I hope new owners understand the club they are buying and Chelsea can continue to be one of the best clubs in football “
- Justin Lawrence
Barca end Rudiger interest
Barcelona have reportedly bowed out of the race for Antonio Rudiger after securing a new deal with defender Ronald Araujo.
Rudiger, 29, is out of contract with Chelsea in the summer and was linked to join the Spanish giants after initial talks took place last week.
But according to Fabrizio Romano, a move for Rudiger now seems unlikely as the Catalan club have agreed terms with Araujo.
The Uruguayan's new deal reportedly includes a release clause and is expected to last until June 2026.
- Justin Lawrence
Chelsea lead Tchouameni transfer hunt
Chelsea are currently leading the transfer race to sign Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports.
The 22-year-old joined Monaco in 2020 and has since been deemed as one of the most promising stars in French football.
He has made 43 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring three goals and assisting two.
And now he is wanted by some of Europe's biggest clubs.
Manchester United, PSG and Real Madrid have all been linked with the star, but according to Spanish outlet Sport as per SportWitness, Chelsea are currently leading the race for his signature.
The Blues have reportedly been tracking the Frenchman for months and are eager to try and put a deal in place.
- Justin Lawrence
Don't believe Abramovich rumours
Rumours that Roman Abramovich has taken over Super Lig outfit Goztepen have been shot down by the Turkish side.
The Super Lig outfit released a statement saying: "We read in the media that Abramovich took over the club. No such thing.
"We will make the necessary announcement when the talks on these issues reach a certain maturity."
- Justin Lawrence
Bale tipped for Champions League cameo
Glenn Hoddle reckons Gareth Bale will feature for Real Madrid at some point over the two legs of their Champions League clash against Chelsea.
He said: “You might see Gareth more involved in the second leg rather than the first. It depends on the result.
“What he’s done with Wales proves he is still a very good player. Anyone can play 20 minutes at this level. He certainly can. He can play more.
“He’s a very good substitute to have, especially when he is playing at full throttle. They’ve got some good players Real Madrid, but they are not the team of yester-year.”
- Justin Lawrence
Rudiger wants Chelsea stay
Antonio Rudiger would prefer to remain at Chelsea, reports claim.
But the defender is waiting on the outcome of the Blues' Champions League quarter final clash against Real Madrid before making a decision on his future.
That's according to journalist Christian Falk, who also reports that Barcelona, Real, Juventus and PSG hope to lure Rudiger in before the Blues sort out their ownership woes.
- Kostas Lianos
Courtois wants Lukaku Chelsea absence
Real Madrid star and former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is hoping Romelu Lukaku will not feature in tonight's Champions League clash.
Courtois said: "Romelu is a great striker so it’s strange not to see him playing much lately.
“He’s a guy with so much quality who finds the goal easily, but there are other great strikers at Chelsea and if the team is winning without him the manager keeps picking the same players.
“Everyone needs time to adapt to a new club with a new coach and new tactics. My first year at Madrid was also not easy.
“I am sure that Romelu will come good. But I hope he can wait one more week before he does that”
- Kostas Lianos
Keeping in touch
Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku has reportedly "held video calls” with former club Inter Milan.
That sensational report comes from Gazzetta dello Sport who claim Lukaku has been in regular contract with Inter and “it’s not just a courtesy WhatsApp or nostalgic calls to old team-mates” either.
And TuttoSport have also stated that the striker has asked directors at the Nerazurri to return to them.
However, due to the financial difficulties at Inter they would only be able to afford the Belgium international on loan
- Kostas Lianos
Ancelotti in London
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been spotted in London ahead of tonight's Champions League clash with Chelsea.
Ancelotti will face his former club at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals.
Real president Florentino Perez joined the manager and the team in the capital.
The Italian tactician tested negative for COVID-19 before the flight to the UK
- Kostas Lianos
Wyss issues update
Chelsea bidder and Todd Boehly's consortium partner Hansjorg Wyss had told fans that they will know more "next week" regarding the status of their bid.
Wyss took some time off a cross-country skiing holiday in Finland to issue an update.
He told Swiss outlet Blickch: "Next week we'll probably know more, now I have to cook"
- Kostas Lianos
Christian Pul-ing together
Chelsea star Christian Pulisic has denied rumours that are suggesting he will leave at the end of the season.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the Blues' Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Pulisic said: "I’m happy here.
"We’ve done some great things while I’ve been here. I’m enjoying my football.
"I’m not worried about that [a transfer] right now"
- Kostas Lianos
Luk out for him
Chelsea are set to meet Real Madrid tonight and Romelu Lukaku has previously described Karim Benzema as the best striker in the world.
Lukaku made that revelation ahead of last summer's delayed Euro 2020.
Lukaku told La Tribune when asked who the best frontman is: "Without a doubt, Karim Benzema."
Credit: GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
Tim to go?
Chelsea ace Timo Werner's agent has reportedly travelled to Italy for talks with several Serie A clubs amid speculation around the forward's future.
Werner has struggled to find any sort of consistent form since arriving at Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig two years ago.
According to The Express, the Germany international's agent Volker Struth is now exploring the possibility of a switch to Serie A.
Struth has reportedly flown out to Italy for meetings with Juventus, AC Milan and Atalanta
- Kostas Lianos
More from Courtois
Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois addressed his former club Chelsea's recent troubles as they continue to look for a new owner.
Courtois added: ”It's been a hard month for the club, the fans and the players. You can see all the people who love Chelsea are putting their energy together to keep the blue spirit.
“I just hope the new owners will understand the club they are buying.
“In terms of the players, Chelsea are more or less the same team we played last year but then were more dynamic and in a good flow.
“I think this year they are struggling a bit more and the good thing is that we know where we failed last time we played them so we believe we can have a better result this time and get to the semi-finals”
- Kostas Lianos
Blues boos for Courtois
Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois is steeling himself for a rough return to Stamford Bridge.
Courtois has never been forgiven by Chelsea fans for the way he forced a cut-price move to Real in 2018.
The Belgium international said: “I played here for four years and won two League titles and some cups.
“Chelsea was a big part of my career. They gave me the chance to grow and to learn from Petr Cech.
“Maybe my departure was less pleasant, but it is always difficult to leave any club and I am always happy to come back here”
- Kostas Lianos
Real relief for Ancelotti
Real Madrid have confirmed that Carlo Ancelotti WILL be at Stamford Bridge to face old club Chelsea tonight.
Ancelotti faced missing the Champions League clash after testing positive for the virus six days ago.
However, Los Blancos announced this morning that the Italian tactician will be in the dug-out later.
A statement said: “Real Madrid CF announces that our coach Carlo Ancelotti has tested negative for Covid-19, so he will travel to London this morning to join the first team training camp”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
Blue is the holler
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says the Blues' fans need to raise their game as much as his players if they are going to see off Real Madrid tonight.
Tuchel admitted: “We need to be better on the pitch than we were on Saturday but we absolutely also need the crowd to be better.
“Everyone has to be on the front foot for such a big occasion against opponents like Real Madrid because that will be crucial in this game.
“It’s much harder to play against the spectators as well. We felt it against Juventus and in Malmo and we will face it again in Madrid next week.
“In the Champions League the crowd gives us a huge push in terms of energy and support and we need everyone to arrive at the ground to get behind us”
- Kostas Lianos
More from Hoddle
Chelsea would be challenging for the top two if they hadn't been hit by COVID-19, claims Glenn Hoddle.
Hoddle added: “Tuchel would have been challenging the top two had they not been hit big-time by Covid, first in the backline and then in midfield.
“If the jigsaw parts aren’t there, you can’t challenge. But they are good enough”
- Kostas Lianos
Thomas' magic Tuch
Glenn Hoddle claims Chelsea would be mad to get rid of manager Thomas Tuchel if he ends this season without adding to his trophy haul.
Hoddle said: "Chelsea have one of the best managers in Europe. Why would you even contemplate letting him go?
“They are third right now and will be in the Champions League next season.
“And if they don’t win a trophy they still have the right jockey on the horse.
“It doesn’t always mean the horse will win but on and off the pitch he has been excellent — and he will continue to do that.
“The problem is sometimes as a manager is you have to watch out when you set a standard.
“Once you do what he did, winning the Champions League inside his first six months in the job, you have to live by that every time.
“It also gives him a bit of leeway and certainly there is no reason why he can’t go and win that again, as well as the FA Cup.
“They have all their players firing now and all fit. They are still a very good side, and they should be favourites to beat Madrid”
- Kostas Lianos
N'Golo Kante be denied
Emmanuel Petit insists Chelsea star N'Golo Kante remains among the best midfielders in the world.
Petit added: “I don't know players in my generation or any generation where everyone says 'we love him'. I've never heard anything bad said about Kante.
“On the pitch and off the pitch, about his humility, his mentality, his personality. I love this guy. I would love to have played alongside him on the pitch.
“Because it's based on trust, his qualities, his honesty, his sincerity. The relationship he has with his teammates. It's based on loyalty.
"He's so important to his mission on the pitch, he puts the team before himself all the time.
“The best example of what we can have in football, the opposite of the stars that want to shine along without their teammates.
“Kante isn't looking for it, he just wants to win trophies, that's his only task on the pitch”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
More from Petit
“I wish he [N'Golo Kante] could take care of himself a little bit more and be a bit more selfish, maybe think 'I'm not going to make this run anymore'.
“His sacrifices on the pitch are so overwhelming for his team-mates all the time, but Chelsea need the best Kante they can to win trophies and reach their targets.
“This is the end of the season and the most important part of the season so Tuchel cannot put Kante on the bench and tell him to rest.
"It's impossible”
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