Carlo Ancelotti has ordered Chelsea to go all
out in their bid to sign Carlos Tevez. The Argentina striker had
been expected to complete his switch to Manchester City
this week.
But new Blues boss Ancelotti has told owner Roman Abramovich to
raise his offer for the club-less star after admitting a creative
player was high on his wish list.
Tevez is available to buy at £25.5million after
refusing to sign a long-term deal at champions Manchester
United, where he spent the past two seasons.
Chelsea and City have both matched the asking price but
Abramovich is unlikely to be able to offer the same astronomical
wages available at Eastlands.
Mega-rich City, who have already splashed out £30m on Roque
Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry, are believed to have put a five-year
deal worth £130,000 per week on the table.
Yet, Ancelotti is refusing to give up hope that Chelsea can lure
the former West Ham
striker to Stamford Bridge.
Top target: Carlos Tevez is at the centre of a
transfer tussle
Chelsea are also thought to be looking at Real Madrid
midfielder Wesley Sneijder and haven't completely given up on
France star Franck Ribery, but Ancelotti said: 'Ribery is for sure
a great player, but Ribery I think stays in Bayern
Munich.'
'I think Chelsea is a strong team, a great team, a physical team
that plays very well and can be improved with some creative
players. And we are looking for these players.
'But you can be creative not only with creative players. You can
be creative with creative ideas and a creative organisation. You
can change the idea of the team with the same players.
'I would like to have a team that plays well, plays good,
creative football and naturally I would like to win. For a coach it
is important to win but it is important to build a team with good
characteristics, to play well, to play with organisation.'
They have already wrapped up deals for Yuri Zhirkov, Ross
Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge, while Milan forward Alexandre Pato
remains in their sights.
Ancelotti has ruled out selling skipper John Terry to ambitious
City, although he is expected to trim his squad ahead of the new
campaign.