Heading to Madrid: Arjen Robben?
Chelsea are close to losing Dutch star Arjen Robben in a
deal that would see him presented by Real Madrid this week as the
Spanish champions' £20 million signing. But with the new Premier
League season just two weeks away,Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
looks increasingly likely to keep England midfielder Frank Lampard
at Stamford Bridge.
Sources at Real are adamant that Robben, whose absence from
yesterday's friendly at Rangers was officially explained by a knee
injury, will be unveiled as their player in Madrid on Wednesday or
Thursday at the latest.
It is understood Chelsea have still not received a formal offer for
the Holland winger but a fee of around the 30m euros touted in
Spain would be a good price for a player who apparently wants to
leave, and it would help Mourinho step up his interest in Sevilla's
Daniel Alves.
According to reports in Madrid, only minor details remain to be
resolved on Robben's move from Chelsea. He has done little to
dampen the Real speculation while Chelsea still have Florent
Malouda, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou to fight
for the wide positions.
Money from a Robben deal would also give Mourinho more ammunition
in his pursuit of Alves, who could solve Chelsea's right-back
problems. Robben's departure and John Terry's new £135,000-per-week
deal puts the Chelsea spotlight back on Lampard. But it is believed
his contract has pay clauses taking him close to Terry and giving
him more than Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.
His agent Steve Kutner insisted: "Frank has two years left on a
really good deal and he's very happy."
