Brazil behind with preparation for World Cup, say Fifa

Brazil has fallen behind with its preparations for the 2014 World Cup and faces a battle to build new stadiums, airports and transport links in time for the event, Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke said today. 

"I won't say that Brazil started too late (but) we are not advanced in Brazil," he told an audience in Russia, which will host the subsequent tournament in 2018. 

"We don't have stadiums, we don't have airports, we don't have a national transportation system in place," he said during a keynote address to a football forum in Moscow. 

Brazil, the most successful World Cup nation with five victories, has been much-criticised for its preparations since winning the rights to host its first tournament since 1950. 

A new stadium for largest city Sao Paulo has already been ruled out as a venue for 2013 dress rehearsal the Confederations Cup, while cost increases have hampered new building plans. 

"To deliver stadiums is the most important part... it's a lot of work. The Sao Paulo stadium is definitely not a World Cup stadium and that is why it is closed," Valcke said. 

Valcke, effectively Fifa's number two and widely credited with the success of last year's tournament in South Africa, told the Moscow audience that Russia should aim to be ready by 2016 - two years before the tournament starts. 

He declined to comment directly on the cash-for-votes scandal that surrounded Fifa's recent presidential election, adding only that it was "nice to talk about football" for a change. 

Alexei Sorokin, chief executive of Russia's World Cup organising committee, told the forum the 2016 deadline was "absolutely realistic", despite having to build or renovate every stadium. 

"We have to build a lot. We have never hid the fact that we do not have a single stadium that is up to Fifa standards," he said. 

Russia has nominated 13 host cities for the event, a figure that will eventually be reduced, while estimating the total bill for new infrastructure at $10 billion. 

Sorokin said the $10 billion would come from private investors as well as state funds, adding that a portion of the total had already been budgeted under existing government plans to improve Russian infrastructure. 

"We are motivating stadium owners to attract as much private investment as possible. It is meant to be profitable," he said. 

He played down fears about racism in Russia as "not representative of the general mood" but admitted it was "difficult to control". 

Brazilian former World Cup winner Roberto Carlos, who signed for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in February, was the target of banana-throwing at a league match earlier this week. 

And Zenit St Petersburg, the Russian league champions, were fined 300,000 roubles after a fan offered the same player a banana at a pre-match ceremony in April.

United complete Young signing but miss out on Varane to Real

Villa winger agrees £17m deal as Zidane persuades promising defender to head for the Bernabeu

Manchester United have lost out on signing the French prodigy Raphaël Varane, whose club Lens announced yesterday that he will be joining Real Madrid this summer in a deal worth around £10m.

Varane, 19, was a long-standing target for United but the France Under-21 international has opted to join Real having had a choice of some of Europe's leading clubs. The news came as United tied up a £17m deal for Ashley Young, 25, from Aston Villa on a five-year deal that takes his wages up to around £80,000 a week.

The Lens president, Gervais Martel, said yesterday that Varane, who made his debut for the club at the age of 17, would go to Madrid with his blessing. Describing Varane as a "phenomenon", Martel said that the player had been in contact with Zinedine Zidane in the build-up to his decision and had also visited Real's training facilities.

Martel said: "He is a great lad and he will be wearing the Real shirt next season. They have been in touch with him for the last two months and he has been over to visit their training ground. He said to me that he could not turn down this kind of opportunity. The move has not been agreed because of money. It is about his career and he is going to a club with a lot of ambition."

The competition for Varane demonstrates just how hard it is to sign the best developing prospects in European football, never mind the established stars. Four years ago United were able to sign Luis Nani and Anderson from their Portuguese club sides with relatively little competition but now even Real, who traditionally buy older players, are trying to tap the younger market.

Young, United's second signing of the summer after the acquisition of Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers, said yesterday that he does not intend to be a squad player at the club. Young said: "I'm coming here to establish myself in the team. I know it is going to be a challenge but I am up for that challenge. There is a lot of competition for places and it is always nice to have someone biting at your heels trying to get your place.

"I'm excited. At the moment it's surreal but I am pleased to eventually have signed. Of course I am going to miss Aston Villa and the fans and staff but to get the opportunity to come here and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and with such great players, was something I couldn't turn down.

"I hope I become part of the history here by winning the [club's] 20th title. Playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world is a prospect I have always looked at and when the chance came along I had to take it with both hands.

"I just got a buzz inside [when United made their interest known] and a great feeling that probably the greatest manager in the world wanted to sign me. As soon as I got the call I just wanted to get things sorted and get back into training. We are back on 4 July and I can't wait for it."

Raphaël Varane will join Real Madrid for £10m having received the blessing of the Lens president to leave

Having signed Jones and Young, and lost out on Varane, the prospect of landing Luka Modric – United's priority this summer – looks ever more unlikely. The club have to decide whether to invest in a similar player now or wait another season to see if they can get the Croatia international in a year's time.

"United have been a fantastic team over the years, they always produce great players and always fight for titles," Young told MUTV. "They have always had that winning mentality. For myself as a player I have always wanted to be the best since I was a kid. At a club like this you will always be challenging to win titles."

Villas-Boas is chosen one but 'not new Special One'

Chelsea's new manager promises to work on team spirit, not on emulating Mourinho

The new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas yesterday began his Stamford Bridge reign in markedly different style to his mentor and predecessor Jose Mourinho, by stating in his first interview in charge: "This is not a one-man show." 

The 33-year-old former Porto coach promised "new leadership" and emphasised the importance of unifying the club, in what would appear to be a calculated attempt to distance himself from the egotistical Mourinho, who began his Chelsea career by delivering the famous line: "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one." 

In contrast to the bombastic style of Mourinho, Villas-Boas sought to play down the significance of his arrival at Chelsea. The Portuguese, who becomes the seventh manager to work under Roman Abramovich, said: "Don't expect something from one man. Expect us to create a group dynamic of everybody getting together, with the fans getting together, with people getting excited with the motivation that is in and around us. In the new way of communicating and the new leadership – this is the most important thing. It is not about my arrival. It is about the continuous success of this club. 

"The main important thing that people have to reflect on is that I don't see the game as a one-man show, I see the game as the getting together of ideas and collective ideas and good players. This is not a one-man show."

Not the Special One then, but certainly the Chosen One, after Abramovich stumped up the £13.3m to Porto to release him from his contract and Villas-Boas admitted yesterday the last few days "happened like a bomb shell". The coach has first-hand experience of the high standards demanded by Abramovich, having been part of Mourinho's entourage of assistants who were dismissed in September 2007 after the club failed to win either the Champions League or the Premier League in the previous season. 

He said yesterday he accepts the responsibility for leading Chelsea to major hounours, and the inevitable consequences of failure, as Carlo Ancelotti discovered to his cost a month ago when he was sacked on the final day of the season. 

"Chelsea is a club that in the last six years has achieved so much and people are expecting us to be on the same way," he said. "There is not going to be more or less tolerance for me if I am not successful so this is the challenge I face." 

Villas-Boas, who has signed a three-year deal on wages of £4.5m a year, will be the youngest manager in the Premier League next season but insisted it is not a problem.

"There is no hiding from that, the manager is young but for you to get experience you have to have access to that experience. And Chelsea has given me access at the top level of the Premiership, which is the most important league in the world. So we will have this open relationship and I think the players will like it," he said. 

Villas-Boas accepted the comparisons with Mourinho, but insisted that was not the reason he has been appointed by Chelsea. He told Chelsea TV: "I think there is no way you can avoid comparison, it is something that is the interest of the media. I didn't take the Porto job nor the Chelsea job because Jose made the same steps. 

"When you are compared to such an important winning manager like Jose, it's something that gives you even more responsibility, so I take it naturally, day-by-day. People know what to expect from me, they can expect to win trophies and I want to continue winning." 

Chelsea's new manager is understood to want to bring striker Radamel Falcao and midfielder Joao Moutinho with him from Porto but he said he will not be rushing into the transfer market. "It is normal to have a look into the market, or for any club to look into the market, but it is also normal to respect the things that we have and the quality of the players that we have. For us to make better decisions, it is important for us to get to know people again," he said.

"[We need to] feel their motivations, their expectations, and make the better decisions. In the end it's about making better decisions for the squad and for the club. So, no radical changes, we need to absorb things, respect our winning past and try to focus on 2011-12 as a year where we can continue to win. 

"Let's reflect on the success of the past six years at this club and what we have achieved and now what we can achieve in the next six years again. There is no doubt that the challenge for me is to keep winning. I am an individual who has that hunger for success and I want to keep it that way."

Alexis Sanchez expected to join Barcelona

Barcelona are still favourites to land Chile international Alexis Sanchez this summer, according to Udinese owner Gianpaolo Pozzo. 

The highly-rated winger is one of the hottest names on the transfer market and is also a target of Manchester City. 

The 22-year-old, who is under contract with Udinese until June 2014, is valued at €50 million.

"Barcelona are ahead of City," said Pozzo to Gazzetta dello Sport. "But the player has not expressed a big preference between the two clubs. 

"Of course, we will consider his opinion.

"The deal is not done because there are still details yet to iron out." 

Sanchez scored 12 goals this term to help the Serie A outfit finish fourth in the league and qualify for the Champions League next season.

Gasperini leading candidate for Inter Milan job Reuters

Former Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at Inter Milan and a decision is due before the weekend, club president Massimo Moratti said today. 

Current coach Leonardo, whose side lost the Serie A title last term for the first time in six seasons, is poised to leave after just six months because he wants a less hands-on role as sporting director at Paris St Germain.

"The candidates are the same as yesterday, you will know everything by the weekend," Moratti told reporters. 

Inter's owner had confirmed on Wednesday that Gasperini, who was sacked by perennial mid-table side Genoa early last season, was one of the favourites. 

A series of coaches including Marcelo Bielsa, new Chelsea coach Andre Villas Boas and Fiorentina's Sinisa Mihajlovic have slipped from the 2010 European champions' grasp. 

Moratti has also joked he could keep hold of Leonardo, his third coach in a year, if he fails to find anyone else as the Brazilian is still contracted to Inter and has not completed his move to former club PSG.

TOUCHLINES

ARSENAL are preparing an audacious bid to take striker Jermain Defoe from London rivals Tottenham

REAL MADRID manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

BLACKBURN manager Steve Kean is lining up a bid for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor who spent a loan spell at Real Madrid last season.

LIVERPOOL duo Maxi Rodroguez and Raul Meireles could be on their way out of Anfield

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make a surprise £12m (RM60m) offer to Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam.

CHELSEA are keen on Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara but the 20-years-old’s future could depend on whether the Spanish side sign Fabregas.

INTER MILAN’S Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder will be allowed to leave to join Manchester United for a fee of about £35m (RM175m).

MICHAEL ESSIEN is to be offered to Spurs in the latest Chelsea bid for Luka Modric.

ARSENE WENGER is weighing up the most astonishing transfer swoop of the summer – for Joey Barton. The Arsenal manager has finally accepted the need to inject some bite and experience into his team of perennial underachievers.

BARCELONA are preparing to offer David Villa to Manchester city and Chelsea for £40m (RM200m).

SUNDERLAND have triggered a bidding war for Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham by offering  £10m (RM50m) for the 18-year-old, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Arsenal.

LIVERPOOL are preparing a swoop for Celtic  star Ki Sung Yeung in the event for a deal for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam falling through.

SAMIR NASRI is still refusing to commit his future to Arsenal and will not do so until he sees how much the Gunners are prepared to spend in the summer.

ELJERO ELIA will be the subject of a bid from Chelsea as Liverpool’s transfer interest wanes.

BARCELONA have made formal contact with Arsenal about Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal are demanding £45m (RM225m) for the Spain midfielder but Barca hope to arrange talks in London this week and insist they will not pay more than £35m (RM175m).

MANCHESTER UNITED defender West Brown is being lined up for a £3m (RM15m) move to Everton.

EVERTON midfielder Marouane Fellaini has told the club taht his desire to play Champions League football may force him to leave.

CHELSEA have launched a stunning £50m (RM250m) bid to sign Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero.

MANCHESTER CITY and Spurs are battling Man United for the signature of Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell.

LASSANA DIARA has been told he can leave Real Madrid and is in talk with Manchester United.

MANCHESTER CITY are hoping to keep homesick Carlos Tevez at the club, with a two-year deal ending in a free transfer back to Argentina.

Chelsea close on Villas-Boas after paying Porto £13m

Manager's appointment expected today as Abramovich triggers buyout clause

The Porto president Jorge Pinto da Costa confirmed last night that Chelsea had paid the £13.2m release clause in Andre Villas-Boas's contract, making him the most expensive managerial signing in English football history.

An announcement from Chelsea that they have appointed Villas-Boas is expected today, although last night the club were still refusing even to admit officially that it was them who had paid the buyout clause in the 33-year-old's contract.

In a club statement released at 7.15pm last night, Chelsea said: "We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated. We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future."

Pinto da Costa later admitted – at a press conference to introduce Villas-Boas's successor – that Chelsea had paid the £13.2m themselves. However, the wording used by Chelsea prompted suggestions that the payment of the buyout clause may have implications for their status under the Uefa financial fair play regulations.

After Villas-Boas announced his resignation earlier yesterday it was a case of Chelsea waiting for Porto to confirm to the Portuguese securities market commission that they had received the compensation outlined in his contract which would trigger its termination. When Porto finally did so they also announced they had appointed Villas-Boas's assistant, Vitor Pereira, as his successor.

Villas-Boas is expected to be given a three-year contract at Chelsea that will earn him around £4.5m a year. Last night, Pinto da Costa warned that Villas-Boas would not be able to raid his former club for players without paying the buyout clauses written into their contacts.

As well as Porto's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, valued at £26m, being a potential transfer target for Chelsea, there were suggestions last night that Villas-Boas wanted to sign the Portugal international Joao Moutinho. The 24-year-old, whom he signed from Sporting Lisbon one year ago, has a £35m buyout clause.

Certainly Moutinho, a diminutive midfielder, would fit the bill for a player who can dictate play in central midfield. With it unlikely that Chelsea can persuade Tottenham to part with Luka Modric, Moutinho would be a more realistic alternative.

Villas-Boas, a former Chelsea scout, is expected to bring with him from Porto another assistant, Jose Mario Rocha, and the opposition scout Daniel Sousa, although details of his backroom staff are yet to be finalised. He will join the club at the start of July and will spend a few days with the players before being introduced to the media around 7 July.

Having hoped yesterday that they might be able to negotiate with Pinto da Costa on the question of compensation, it was made clear to Chelsea that they had no option but to pay the full amount. Police were called to Villas-Boas's house in Porto to control fans demonstrating against his departure but the man himself was still on holiday in the Seychelles.

Rocha was described by one seasoned Porto expert as Villas-Boas's "right-hand man" although not a day-to-day coach. The two first worked together during Villas-Boas's 23 matches in charge at Academica in his first season as a manager in 2009-2010.

There was a reminder from Pereira last night that Porto's success last season was not just the work of one man. Pereira said: "The winner was not just Andre. Porto provided the structure and there was a great exchange of ideas between us. He tapped my experience and I tapped his."

It caps a remarkable few days in the Roman Abramovich regime with Guus Hiddink eventually overlooked for a job that he appeared certain to get following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on the last day of the season. The 64-year-old Dutch coach is now being linked to the vacant Internazionale job.

Pinto da Costa said last night that Pereira, a member of Villas-Boas's backroom staff, was a "natural successor". However, Porto have still been caught out by the speed at which events have moved over the last few days since they were told by Villas-Boas over the weekend that he was determined to leave.

Pinto da Costa said: "What happened [with Villas-Boas] is part of life and football. We admit that. For some time we had the assurance of Victor Pereira that if this happened, he would take the job on. Villas-Boas had great merit and I pay tribute to his work. If you put a clause in [a contract] then it can be exercised. It was part of the contract signed freely. I think he has the ability to succeed at any club and I hope he has great success."

In an earlier statement, Porto said:"FC Porto hereby informs the market they have received from Mr Andre Villas-Boas the amount provided for in clause to terminate his employment contract."

Reports in Portugal have suggested that the contingency deal to bring Villas-Boas on board was hatched at the start of May although there has been no indication from Chelsea that was the case. The club's board, including chief executive Ron Gourlay, have all played a part in the process to bring Villas-Boas to Chelsea although the main decision, as ever, was made by Abramovich.

Chelsea target Andre Villas-Boas quits Porto

Chelsea moved a step closer to landing their primary managerial target today when Porto confirmed Andre Villas-Boas intended to resign his post at the Portuguese champions.

Villas-Boas, who at just 33 years of age will become the youngest manager in the Barclays Premier League should he complete a switch to west London, told Porto he would meet the 15 million euro release clause in his contract himself, paving the way for him to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge.

Porto made a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission which read: "FC Porto was today notified of the intention of Andre Villas-Boas to resign from his contract with the club by triggering the release clause immediately.

"The contract will be terminated once the required amount is paid."

Villas-Boas, who led Porto to the domestic double and Europa League success last season, has worked for Chelsea before as part of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff and speaks good English.

If he does succeed Ancelotti - the Italian was sacked at the end of last season - one of his first moves could be to sign Porto's star striker Falcao, the £25m-rated Colombian having impressed as the Dragons won the Europa League final at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, where the 25-year-old netted the only goal against Braga.

With Chelsea having stepped up their pursuit of the former Academica boss, question marks now surround the future of Guus Hiddink.

The Dutchman, who enjoyed a successful spell as caretaker boss of Chelsea in 2009, was thought to be in line for a return to Stamford Bridge, although reports have suggested he would prefer to remain as a coach and not move upstairs into a sporting director role.

His agent today threw up an alternative by refusing to dismiss a link with Inter Milan, who themselves had been interested in Villas-Boas.

The coaching role at the San Siro is likely to be vacated by Leonardo shortly, with the former AC Milan boss poised to become Paris St Germain's new sporting director.

Inter have been frustrated in their attempts to recruit Sinisa Mihajlovic, Marcelo Bielsa and now Villas-Boas but Cees van Nieuwenhuizen said Hiddink, currently in charge of the Turkish national side, "would evaluate" Inter's offer should the Nerazzurri reach an agreement with his current employers.

"We have never spoken to (Inter president Massimo) Moratti," Van Nieuwenhuizen told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"Hiddink has a contract with the Turkish federation and therefore before any talks can begin, Moratti must contact the (Turkish) federation and say he is interested in Guus.

"He is contracted until 2012 so, for the time being, there is no possibility that he can coach Inter.

"If Inter reached an agreement with Turkey? Well at that point Hiddink would certainly evaluate the Nerazzurri offer but he is a professional and he has never broken a contract in his whole career."

Guus Hiddink would consider Inter Milan says agent

Guus Hiddink's agent has suggested the Dutchman may be interested in becoming the next coach of Inter Milan.

The role is likely to be vacated by Leonardo shortly, with the former AC Milan boss poised to become Paris St Germain's new sporting director.

Inter have already made moves to find a successor for Leonardo but have met several obstacles with Porto's Andre Villas-Boas' release clause too steep while Sinisa Mihajlovic has reiterated his commitment to Fiorentina.

Former Argentina boss Marcelo Bielsa has also ruled himself out of the running.

But Cees van Nieuwenhuizen has said his client, currently in charge of the Turkish national side, "would evaluate" Inter's offer should the Nerazzurri reach an agreement with Hiddink's current employers.

"We have never spoken to (Inter president Massimo) Moratti," Van Nieuwenhuizen told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"Hiddink has a contract with the Turkish federation and therefore before any talks can begin, Moratti must contact the (Turkish) federation and say he is interested in Guus.

"He is contracted until 2012 so, for the time being, there is no possibility that he can coach Inter.

"If Inter reached an agreement with Turkey? Well at that point Hiddink would certainly evaluate the

Nerazzurri offer but he is a professional and he has never broken a contract in his whole career."

Hiddink has also been linked with a move back to Chelsea, with whom he had a successful caretaker spell in 2009, possibly in a sporting director role with the west London club reportedly targeting Villas-Boas to be their next coach.

Steven Gerrard hopes Liverpool can close gap with Manchester United

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is hopeful the club's transfer activity this summer will give the Reds the opportunity to redress the balance in their long-running battle with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side edged one ahead of their arch-rivals in terms of championship titles with their 19th success in May.

By contrast, Liverpool have not won the league since 1990 - when Kenny Dalglish was in charge first time around - and their last trophy of any kind was the 2006 FA Cup.

With owners Fenway Sports Group willing to invest heavily in players for the long-term future - having recently signed England Under-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson in a £20million deal - Gerrard is optimistic they can match United and he will win more trophies before the end of his Anfield career.

"As a Liverpool fan and a player it's frustrating when you see your arch-rivals lifting trophies but you've got to give credit where it's due. They've won it, they've overtaken us," said the 31-year-old.

"Now the challenge for us is to equalise. We've got to make sure we've got a squad capable of going into the season and competing with Manchester United.

"It's a big statement by the club getting a big signing in early and now we're watching anxiously for a few more to follow. It's exciting times.

"It's important this team delivers very soon because we've been a number of seasons without putting a trophy in the cabinet and that's not what Liverpool is about.

"I want to play well, I want to score goals - but it's much more important that the team plays well and we all end the season happy."

Gerrard is currently undergoing a programme of rehabilitation - the club's physios have been working with him every day at his holiday home in Portugal - after groin surgery in March but he will be ready for the start of pre-season.

It is has been the longest spell on the sidelines of his career but the England midfielder is confident he and Liverpool will feel the benefit when the new campaign kicks off in August.

"I want to come back with a bang, I want to have a big season," Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv.

"It's been non-stop football for me since I started when I was 17. I've never had a period of more than four or five weeks out of the game, so it's been nice to rest mentally.

"You don't want to miss games but when you're watching them it gives you that edge, that buzz to get back.

"I'll come back hungry and hopefully there's a very productive season ahead for me.

"I've had a rest mentally, my injury's coming on well and I can't wait for the season to start.

"There's still a lot of time for me to achieve bigger and better things. I'd like to finish my career with a few more trophies.

"I always look at the 35 marker. If I get there and I'm still involved with Liverpool I'll be delighted but at the moment I'm feeling as good as ever.

"I've had time to get my body right, get my body strong. I'm still four or five weeks away from playing a game but I believe I'll come back in better physical condition than I've ever been."

Cesc Fabregas doing 'all he can' to join Barcelona

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has admitted the Catalan club are unwilling to pay Arsenal's £35million valuation of their captain Cesc Fabregas, but says the midfielder is doing "all he can" to join Pep Guardiola's side.

Fabregas' wish to join Barca - where he started out as a youth player - is no secret, although the midfielder claimed he was happy at Arsenal just last week.

But the Gunners captain, who left Barca at 16, also admitted he dreams of playing for the Nou Camp side and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood revealed there had been contact with the Catalan club this week, saying Fabregas' desire to return home was "understandable".

In a similar stance to last summer, when Barca had two bids turned down for the player, Rosell claimed the Catalan club would not pay over the odds for the midfielder.

"He (Cesc) is doing everything he can to come (here)," the Barca president told Catalan station TV3 on Monday night.

"Guardiola knows the values of players and Cesc's is less than 40million (euros). Barcelona will offer less and if they (Arsenal) don't accept, then he won't come. Pep knows the club is not well-off in terms of money."

Meanwhile, Barca are expected to seal the signature of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez this week from Udinese, but Rosell appeared cautious.

"There is nothing closed with Alexis," he said.

Rosell also revealed that full-back Eric Abidal had rejected a new contract offer from the club and admitted relations with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez were "on standby" after their failure to act against doping allegations aimed at Barca last season by radio station Cadena COPE.

"I haven't spoken to Florentino Perez since the last game (against Madrid)," he said.

"My relationship with him is on standby because there are wounds that are still not closed and that need to scar."

COPE claimed the allegations came from a senior Madrid director and Rosell says Real's lukewarm denial has failed to convince him of the innocence of Barca's greatest rivals.

"Actions speak louder than words and it's not that I don't believe Florentino Perez, but I would believe him more if Real Madrid had taken COPE to court," he said.

Chelsea to take £13m gamble on Mourinho protégé as new manager

Hiddink's change of heart clears way for Villas-Boas, who is set to bring £26m striker Falcao with him from Porto

Guus Hiddink has told friends that he will not be joining Chelsea in any capacity this summer, which means the 33-year-old Andre Villas-Boas will have sole control of the club as its new manager.

Hiddink has indicated that he will now be staying with Turkey until the end of their Euro 2012 qualification campaign and possibly beyond to the tournament next summer, ruling him out of any potential director of football role. The club had originally turned to Villas-Boas as a coach to work under Hiddink but were so impressed by the Porto manager that they decided to offer him an all-encompassing manager's job.

An announcement on Villas-Boas, who worked at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho as an opposition scout, is expected in the next few days by Chelsea. It is a remarkable turnaround in the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti's successor, with the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, previously having intended to appoint Hiddink.

It emerged yesterday Chelsea will have to pay around £13.2m compensation to Porto for Villas-Boas, a huge sum for a manager. The club are also expected to sign Porto's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who has a £26m buyout clause in his contract – a move that is likely to infuriate the Porto president, Jorge Pinto da Costa further.

Appointing a manager with only one full season under his belt is a huge step – even though Villas-Boas achieved great success in his debut year with Porto. He won the Portuguese title going through the season unbeaten, picked up the two domestic trophies and also the Europa League with a win percentage of 84 per cent. His only other managerial job was eight months in charge at Academica de Coimbra.

The Russian oligarch is believed to be the driving force behind appointing Mourinho's protégé as Chelsea's sixth manager in four years. While it is understood he is ready to meet the buyout clause in Villas-Boas' contract, Chelsea are trying to pay less. Villas-Boas informed Porto yesterday of his intention to leave and was last night at home waiting for the deal to be completed.

The Portuguese coach, who wrote famously detailed dossiers on the opposition for Mourinho at Chelsea from 2003 to 2007, has been offered £5m a year on a three-year deal to take over at Stamford Bridge and replace the experienced Ancelotti, who was sacked on the final day of last season.

Provided Abramovich is successful in enticing Villas-Boas away from Porto, it will take the Russian's total spending in compensation to former clubs and sacked managers to £62m.

Porto yesterday issued a statement to the Portuguese stock exchange that they had not received the £13.2m required to release their manager from his contract. However, it is likely a deal will be reached by the end of the week. A Chelsea spokesman said: "We hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the new manager in the next few days or so."

Hiddink is understood to have been reluctant to take on the day-to-day responsibility of coaching the first team full-time at the age of 64. He wanted to appoint several coaches, allowing him to spend time in the Netherlands, which alarmed the Chelsea board and prompted a closer look at Villas-Boas.

Pinto da Costa yesterday admitted that he would be unable to prevent Villas-Boas from moving to England if his release fee is met. He said: "Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of €15m [£13.2m]. If someone deposits €15m into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything."

Sources in Portugal last night claimed that Villas-Boas had been told Chelsea would make funds available for him to take the prolific striker Falcao with him. The 25-year-old striker set a new coring record of 17 goals in 14 games in the Europa League campaign.

Villas-Boas, who at 33 is the same age as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, has become the most talked about young coach in world football despite only working as a manager for 20 months at two Portuguese clubs.

Porto are said to be extremely unhappy at the prospect of him leaving, having already brought in four new players – Djalma, Iturbe, Kelvin and Rafael Bracalli – that Villas-Boas identified. Pinto da Costa is also understood to be disgruntled at the timing of Chelsea's approach, as the man he would have wanted to replace Villas-Boas, the former Beira-Mar manager Leonardo Jardim, has just been snapped up by rivals Braga.

During his brief managerial reign, Villas-Boas has been keen to differentiate himself from his mentor Mourinho, saying: "We have different personalities and different views towards the game. I respect Jose, but don't want to be a Mourinho clone. I want to be able to work freely, without worrying what he thinks."

A key difference is that Villas-Boas places a greater emphasis on attacking football than his mentor. His Porto team scored 73 goals in 30 league games last season, and fired in 37 goals on their way to winning the Europa League.

Like Mourinho he has courted controversy in the past, clashing with Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard during his time working under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea and Arsenal in contact claims Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarabt claims both Chelsea and Arsenal have been in contact over a potential summer transfer - but admits staying at Queen's Park Rangers in the Barclays Premier League next season would not be a bad move either.

Having played an integral part in helping the west London club return to the top flight for the first time in 15 years, the Moroccan midfielder has been linked with a switch away from Loftus Road.

However, the former Tottenham man, 22, revealed helping Neil Warnock's men battle to retain their place among England's elite is also appealing.

Speaking to L'Equipe, Taarabt said: "QPR will demand £10 million pounds for me, and for now, the clubs do not move too much.

"I had contact with Arsenal and Chelsea, but it is a little muddled [difficult]. Arsenal have not yet sold [Cesc] Fabregas, and as for Chelsea, they do not yet have a coach, so we will see.

"I would like to stay in London - it is the best city in the world, and with Queens Park Rangers? Why not?

"When I talked with the coach, he told me the club would aim to be in the top eight."

Warnock is keen to bolster his squad ahead of the new campaign.

England striker Jay Bothroyd, who is a free agent after leaving Cardiff, is a potential target, along with Blackpool's DJ Campbell.

While the QPR boss has played down reports he is set to move for AC Milan veteran defender Nicola Legrottaglie, £3million-rated Real Valladolid striker Javi Guerra is another said to be on the radar.

Whoever Rangers bring in, defender Fitz Hall maintains the Premier League newcomers should have nothing to fear for the challenges ahead.

The 30-year-old - who has Premier League experience from his time at Southampton, Crystal Palace and Wigan - sees no reason why the west London club should not be able to hold their own next season.

"We can do well next season. The gap between the Premier League and the Championship is definitely closing," Hall told http://www.qpr.co.uk/.

"The sides that were promoted last season all did well and even though Blackpool got relegated, they were flying at the start of the season and surprised a few people.

"It gives everyone hope.

Chile will allow Alexis Sanchez to travel to Barcelona

Chile coach Claudio Borghi will allow star forward Alexis Sanchez to leave the national team's training camp ahead of the Copa America to sign for Barcelona.

Sanchez, who plays for Udinese, is close to joining the Spanish and European champions, but needs to travel to Spain in order to finalise a deal.

Borghi says Chile have no option but to allow the 22-year-old to fly to Barcelona as they could otherwise be liable to cover the cost of the transfer, reported to be around 30million euros, if Sanchez suffers a serious injury while on international duty.

"It's a very complicated matter," he told television station Chilevision.

"If we don't allow him to travel, and the sale goes through, we would be accountable for 45 million dollars in the event of anything happening to him.

"It's very simple. As soon as the confirmation of his transfer comes through, he will have the authorisation (to travel)."

Chile are currently preparing for the Copa America, which starts on July 1, and Borghi says Sanchez will not be able to travel during the tournament.

"If it happens in the middle of the Copa America, obviously not, but we have time and we know we cannot be responsible for that amount of money, so the ideal situation would be for him to travel and sign when the deal is confirmed," he said.

Borghi believes Sanchez is good enough to play for any side and reckons the youngster is remaining calm during the negotiations between Udinese and Barca.

"We have spoken about this possibility he has," Borghi said. "It's not easy. He's 22 and his transfer costs a lot of money, but he is ready to play anywhere.

"He is training to be the best. He has a little bit of anxiety but that will surely come to an end when he signs the contract."

Porto deny Andre Villas-Boas bound for Chelsea

Porto maintain the 15million euro release clause for manager Andre Villas-Boas has not yet been triggered, as their coach looked set to head to Chelsea.

The Blues are seeking to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who was unceremoniously axed at the end of last season, just 12 months after guiding the west London club to an historic double.

With Guus Hiddink - who enjoyed a successful spell as caretaker at Stamford Bridge in 2008/2009 - now appearing set for a sporting director role once a £4million compensation agreement from his departure as Turkey national team boss is secured, Chelsea seem ready to bring in a younger coach to oversee the first team.

Villas-Boas, 33, would certainly be no stranger to Stamford Bridge, having worked there under Jose Mourinho, and the Portuguese coach has seen his stock rise after guiding the Dragons to domestic and Europa League success last season.

However, the Dragons insist as yet no deal has been done for his departure.

"So far this club has not received any communication that this clause has been exercised, nor of the agreement of the coach that is desired," a Porto statement read.

Despite their determination to keep hold of Villas-Boas, president Pinto da Costa admitted the club could not prevent their manager from leaving should certain financial conditions be met.

"Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of 15million euros," he confirmed.

"If someone deposits 15million euros into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything because it is something that is contractually specified."

While there has as yet been no official comment from Chelsea, reports suggest a £4.4m-a-year salary is on the table for Villas-Boas, who could bring star striker Falcao to Stamford Bridge along with him.

Chelsea in talks with striker Romelu Lukaku

Anderlecht have confirmed for the first time they and Chelsea are in discussions over Romelu Lukaku moving to Stamford Bridge.

And the transfer could involve Kevin De Bruyne joining the Brussels club on loan, with the midfielder admitting he was keen to leave Genk for the Blues and be farmed back out to his native Belgium.

Lukaku, 18, has long been linked with Chelsea, who he has confessed to support.

Rumours have been rife that Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck had visited London to thrash out a deal with the Barclays Premier League club.

And he has now confirmed that he has been in talks with them, in addition to other clubs, amid reports Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham are also interested in the teenager.

Van Holsbeeck told Sky Sports: "There is still a long way to go in the negotiations.

"We are indeed negotiating with Chelsea, but there are other clubs we are talking to."

Van Holsbeeck refused to put a timescale on any deal, saying: "It could happen in the next half hour, it could take until August 31 - that is football."

Lukaku's Belgium team-mate De Bruyne could be used as a makeweight in any deal, with the 19-year-old midfielder revealing that would be acceptable to him were he to sign for Chelsea.

"I have had time to think about my future and I would love to join Chelsea, but the important thing next season is that I play," he said.

"With Chelsea, there is not that guarantee, but there would be at Anderlecht and they would be an ideal springboard for me.

"I know Genk are in the Champions League but they must get through two rounds anyway, and if I can improve sporting wise and obviously financially, then I hope Genk will not put any obstacles in my way."

De Bruyne's agent denied his client's loan move to Anderlecht would be dependent on any Lukaku deal.

Patrick de Koster said: "No, that is not the case.

"Kevin, though, is happy with the prospect of joining Anderlecht - he has stated that himself.

"He knows Chelsea have a history of this (loaning out players) and, if you do well, you will get your chance.

"And, yes, although he would benefit financially from this move, he is young and this is about his career and sporting opportunity."

Chelsea are continuing to make moves in the transfer market, despite having been without a manager for almost a month.

Wednesday saw them have a reported £22million bid rejected for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, an offer they will have to increase significantly to stand any chance of prising him away from White Hart Lane.

The Blues' managerial vacancy could soon be filled, with Turkey boss Guus Hiddink reportedly set to return to Stamford Bridge if a compensation package with his current employers can be agreed.

Arsenal close in on £10.6m signing of Gervinho

Arsenal hope to tie up the £10.6m transfer of the Ivory Coast striker Gervinho over the weekend.

The 24-year-old is likely to agree terms on a four-year deal once Arsenal can finalise the terms of the transfer with his club, Lille.

Gervinho scored 18 goals in his 31 games last season as Lille won the French title for the first time since 1954. However, he has made it clear he wants to move to Arsenal, where he would become the third player from the ASEC Mimosas Academy in Abidjan to represent the club, following the footsteps of Emmanuel Eboué and Kolo Touré. The academy was established by the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger's close friend Jean Marc Guillou.

Samir Nasri's future at Arsenal remains in doubt, and he is to hold talks with Wenger over his future at the Emirates later this summer.

The France midfielder has still to agree a contract extension to his current deal, which runs out in 2012. Nasri said: "Earlier in the season I spoke with the boss and we said we would talk during the summer, which is what we are going to do."

Marveaux's move to Anfield on hold

Sylvain Marveaux, the French left winger that Liverpool have spent months trying to bring to Anfield, has failed a fitness test.

The 25-year-old, who is out of contract at Rennes, has not played since November because of a serious groin injury and a medical at Liverpool revealed it remains enough of a problem to make signing him a risk.

Ronaldo happy to finish career at Real

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he would stay at Real Madrid for another 10 years if the opportunity arose.

The former Manchester United forward, who scored 53 goals for Madrid last season, was linked with a move to Manchester City but Ronaldo, 26, said: "I can't see myself leaving Madrid. I'm very happy here, it has been phenomenal."

Samuel Eto'o considering Premier League switch

Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has revealed he is mulling over a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.

The Cameroon star, who has three years remaining on his contract, had said that he wanted to remain at the San Siro after scoring twice in their Coppa Italia triumph over Palermo.

But he told Corriere dello Sport: "I am currently considering my options. I have one month to decide as to whether I want to stay put or choose to move to the Premier League.

"I am now 30 years old and it is very important for me to think about my future before I sign what could be my last contract.

"I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now have the idea of proving myself in England."

The former Barcelona forward had been linked with moves to Chelsea and Arsenal earlier in his career.

Barcelona president slams Jose Mourinho and behaviour of Real Madrid

A war of words between Barcelona and Real Madrid intensified today when Barca president Sandro Rosell accused their bitter rivals of anti-sporting behaviour and slammed Real coach Jose Mourinho.

Bad blood boiled up between the Spanish giants around four clashes in three competitions in 18 days in April and May and Rosell used his end-of-season news conference to read out a strongly-worded statement condemning Real.

"We believe that this season Real Madrid has gone beyond all the limits of the necessary sporting rivalry, making accusations against our club that have no foundation," Rosell said.

"The rivalry will continue next season but we will not allow the limits of sporting behaviour to be exceeded again.

"Football deserves clean competition and FC Barcelona will do everything to preserve that.

"If necessary, we will take legal action and take the case to the relevant sporting tribunals."

European champions Barca eliminated Real from the Champions League and beat the Madrid club into second place in La Liga for a third straight season, while Real claimed a dramatic King's Cup final win over Barca to claim their only silverware.

The four matches were marred by play-acting, brawling and post-game allegations of cheating and racist abuse.

After the Champions League semi-final first leg, Mourinho claimed Barca enjoyed favourable treatment from referees and Real filed a complaint with UEFA - which was rejected - accusing Barca players of diving and alleging midfielder Sergio Busquets had called defender Marcelo a monkey.

Barca filed their own complaint with UEFA over Mourinho's comments and the Portuguese was suspended for five matches and fined 50,000 euros ($70,700).

He faces an appeals hearing on July 29 and has said he will use all means at his disposal to fight the sanction.

"The news conference that the Real Madrid coach gave after the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu shamed anyone who considers themselves an athlete," Rosell said.

Barca were also outraged by a report on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, which cited an unidentified Real official as its source, that suggested Barca's players and medical staff were engaged in illegal doping.

"I can assure you that if someone, in the name of FC Barcelona, had made an accusation of this kind we would have acted with firmness, denying it immediately and taking those responsible to court," Rosell said.

"We would have appreciated a similar response from Real Madrid but unfortunately this was not the case."

Rosell said it was now up to Real president Florentino Perez to mend relations between the clubs.

"A few days ago the president of Real Madrid said he would not stop until the club had won a tenth European Cup," he said.

"We hope that they attempt this on the pitch, in a sporting manner and rediscovering a way of behaving that I believe many Madrid fans want.

"The president of Real Madrid has a chance to reconstitute our relations, on and off the pitch.

"Football, which usually gives you back what you put in, will be the great beneficiary."

Spurs vow to keep Modric as Chelsea up bid to £25m

Enraged Tottenham chairman tells London rivals that Croatian is not for sale at any price

Relations between Chelsea and Tottenham hit a new low yesterday after Spurs insisted Luka Modric would not be sold to Stamford Bridge ''at any price''. Spurs also accused their London rivals of publicising a bid of £22m for the Croatian midfielder,who has now expressed a desire to move. Chelsea, who described suggestions that they publicised the bid as "nonsense'', put in their offer on Wednesday and far from accepting the rejection, are believed to have increased it to about £25m.

When Modric went public yesterday with his reasons for wanting to join them – "to win trophies and play Champions' League football every year" – Tottenham's chairman, Daniel Levy, was prompted to issue a strong statement criticising Chelsea and stressing that the player is going nowhere. He said: "We made our stance on this issue abundantly clear in writing to Chelsea. They chose to ignore it and then subsequently made the offer public.

Chelsea bid has unsettled Modric

"I wish to make it absolutely clear, as I have said previously, that none of our key players will be sold this summer. We are building a team for the future to consistently play at the highest level and retaining quality players is crucial to that. In respect of Luka Modric, we are not prepared to sell, at any price, to Chelsea Football Club or any other club. We now consider this matter closed.''

Whether Modric will share that take on events remains to be seen and Chelsea have a history of securing their man in the transfer market, usually at a hugely inflated price,

Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson is a great admirer of Modric's, and both Manchester clubs have been encouraged by his desire for a transfer, although the player says he and his family are keen to stay in London, which is why Chelsea are his first choice. Modric and his agent, meanwhile, must decide whether to make a formal transfer request this week.

The Rennes midfielder Sylvain Marveaux has agreed to join Newcastle. The 25-year-old is a free transfer and he will sign a five-year deal.