Jose Mourinho has opened the door to moves for Steven Gerrard,
Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole as he prepares to take over at Real
Madrid.
The former Chelsea boss admits Liverpool captain Gerrard and the
midfielder's Stamford Bridge counterpart Lampard are 'both great
players' who he would have no problem splashing out for.
Mourinho is also keen to set up with an attacking team at the
Bernabeu, starting from the back with attacking full backs 'like
Ashley Cole and Maicon'.
Real target: Mourinho would love to take England
star Steven Gerrard to the Bernabeu
Sportsmail revealed last week that the relationship between
29-year-old Gerrard and Anfield boss Rafa Benitez was strained
enough for the England ace to consider a move abroad.
Madrid are seen as the favourites to make a bid, while a move
for Lampard, 31, is likely to prove more difficult to pull off.
Mourinho admits he hugely admires both and would have no problem
making a move for players approaching the twilight of their
careers.
'I like players at the end of their careers,' he told Spanish
newspaper AS. 'I love to have some players who are 33 or 34.
To be Frank: Lampard played under Mourinho for two
seasons at Chelsea
'They are players who you buy and do not recover the money but
if you get a good performance for two or three years and you've got
more than enough value.
'Both (Gerrard and Lampard) are two great players and always
give everything.'
England left back Cole is also thought to be considering his
future at Chelsea as his marriage to Girls Aloud singer Cheryl
heads for divorce.
On the move? Cole could join Mourinho's Real
revolution
The 29-year-old is on the list of candidates to fill the problem
left back position at the Bernabeu and Mourinho admits he is a huge
admirer of the raiding defender.
Explaining how his Madrid side would set up, Mourinho said:
'Normally we play with four (at the back) but with two offensive
full-backs of the style of Ashley Cole or Maicon. In midfield we
can play in diamond or triangle. If we play with the triangle, then
we line up to three forwards.'
Madrid are in advanced negotiations to sign Angel di Maria from
Benfica after cooling on Franck Ribery, though they face
competition from Chelsea, and both Manchester United and City for
the Argentina winger.
Mourinho confirmed he supported a move for the 22-year-old, but
claimed he wasn't a fan of paying over the odds - despite
overseeing a huge spending spree with Roman Abramovich's money at
Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007.
'If we can sign Di Maria at an affordable price, then I say sign
him but if the price is exorbitant then I say no because I don't
like my clubs to pay crazy prices for players,' he said. 'I want
three or four defensive players, but we will improve the attack
too.'
Madrid departure: Guti has been linked with a move
to Blackburn Rovers
One player who looks to be on his way is veteran playmaker Guti.
Blackburn are among the sides chasing the 33-year-old, who has also
been linked to Tottenham Hotspur, and Mourinho said: 'Guti is out
for me,' said Mourinho. 'I read his statements and to me that's
what counts. He said goodbye to the fans and went around the
field.'
As for his ambition, the Portuguese said: 'I want to win the
league, because any player and any coach wants to win the English
championship, the Italian and Spanish. And I'd be the first coach
to lift three Champions Leagues with three different teams.
'I have many motivations but I do not want to lose humility so I
can not come and say that I will win the league because there is a
super team in front called Barcelona.'
