Bayern Munich said last night that they were confident
that they could prise José Bosingwa from Chelsea.
The Portugal defender cost £15.8 million when he moved from
Porto a year ago and Chelsea will be reluctant to allow him to
leave until a replacement can be found.
Paulo Ferreira and Juliano Belletti are recognised right backs,
but Chelsea favoured playing Branislav Ivanovic in the position
last season in the absence of Bosingwa.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of Bayern, said that he was
hopeful of a deal. Willy Sagnol, the right back, was forced to
retire because of injury, while Massimo Oddo failed to impress
after a loan spell from AC Milan. “We are holding talks, but we
still need the approval of Chelsea,” he said. “He is one of the
best right full backs around.”
Bosingwa and Chelsea are expected to appeal against their
punishments in the wake of their Champions League exit at the hands
of Barcelona last month. No decision has been taken because they
have not received a written explanation of the punishments from
Uefa. Bosingwa was handed a three-match ban for accusing Tom
Henning Ovrebo, the Norwegian referee, of being “a thief”, while
Didier Drogba was banned for four matches.
Chelsea have agreed to sell Ben Sahar to Espanyol for just under
£1 million. The striker, who has been offered a four-year contract,
played only three games in as many years since he moved from Hapoel
Tel-Aviv.
Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant first-team coach, has claimed
that some players are overlooking the benefits of the Barclays
Premier League. Kaká chose to move to Real Madrid from AC Milan and
David Villa, the Valencia striker, looks likely to follow. “Are
some of these players taking the slightly softer option in going to
Real Madrid and staying somewhere where they know and not taking up
the challenge elsewhere?” he said. “Our league is the best league
in the world.”