reported 25mill deal to the blues. i hate this b/c it would make Chelsea that much more of a favorite to win all the silverware and not my Reds. hopefully this is all just rumor and Man Utd. can close the deal instead.

ManU needs him badly.

the word "desperately" comes to mind. The Reds need to shore up their midfield especially with Alan Smith gone for the rest of the season and more.

Smith's injury was grotesque to put in mildly. I hope we can keep Ballack out of Chelseas hands, he would certainly help Man. Utd.

So I guess that means Chelsea's midfield would have:

Duff, SWP, Lampard, Robben, Joe Cole, Ballack, Essien, Makelele...anyone that I'm forgetting?

My point is that there will be a lot of talent sitting on the bench on a pretty regular basis if that happens. Especially because Lampard never sits and Makelele rarely does. I gotta feel that the likes of Cole and SWP will start to get a little pissy about never getting PT unless it's against Colchester in the FA Cup.

i dont think chelsea actually wants him all that bad my guess is they just do this stuff to drive up market value of a player so that other clubs over pay and which keeps them from getting other quality talent

[This message has been edited by AG@RICE (edited 2/28/2006 1:20p).]

Maybe but what happens in the long run is that you run a highly unprofitable business. Roman may have deep pockets but I'm sure even he doesn't want to see the massive losses from last year continue too far into the future and I think Peter Kenyon said that the aim is to be profitable by 2009. If you buy 10 midfielders at 20 million pounds a piece and then have to sell 4 because they aren't getting playing time for 5 million a piece...well, that's just not a smart way to get in the black.

I totally agree...and I think in the long run its making them a more hateable team then a loveable team...its not like the yankees where casual fans from around the world will embrace them making an enormous fan base...Im not quite sure how he will turn a profit if he is spending so much money...of course he is a mob boss so who knows

I don't think he's too worried about making a profit. The deals with Samsung and adidas will help offset some of the costs. With adidas marketing Chelsea apparel, I'm sure the club will probably see more revenue from outside England, which will be a bonus. Plus, he's stinking rich, breaking even on the club would be just for show.

That said, I don't think Chelsea is really after another midfielder at the moment -- they need a striker more than anything. Midfield is pretty secure.

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"When I look to this lion it looks arrogant, it is aggressive, it is powerful. He is proud of being a Chelsea lion." -- José Mourinho

Chelsea is having a REal Madrid moment right now. At least they have had the good sense to not bid for David Beckham. They certainly do not need another midfielder, particularly not one of Beckham's talents.