Jose nicks Mic for £18m

zocoss SG

Jose nicks Mic for £18m

MICAH RICHARDS is on his way to Chelsea in an £18million deal.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho has made Manchester Citys young England star his top target.

Richards, 18, has not been pushing to quit but City need the money and will cash in on their right-back in the January transfer window.

The clubs have all but agreed the fee and Mourinho plans to throw him straight into his team in central defence.

City boss Stuart Pearce admitted after Richards sensational international bow in November he saw the player as a future centre-half and Mourinho clearly agrees.

dragg SG

city sold SWP to chelsea for more than 20 mill right? why is city so poor.

they did not sign any big names but yet are in need of funds?

zocoss SG

Not that they are really that poor, i guess they couldn't pass up on such a good chance to make another $18m on a player don't know can really make it at the top consistently or not... and since no one else is willing or able to pay that kind of money so why not?

Good business deal for them actually... cos normally you can't get so much for a defenders, normally its the strikers that cost more. Mr. Green

used SG

and after terry comes back will he start to become one of the regulars sitting on the bench

zocoss SG

Players told Mour to sign Micah

JOSE MOURINHO had to be persuaded by his senior players that Micah Richards is good enough to play for Chelsea.

Blues boss Mourinho has been monitoring the Manchester City defender for a year and tried to buy him last summer. City refused Chelseas £6million offer but it was Mourinhos England internationals who told him the 18-year-old was worth having now put at a monster £18m.

Richards made his full England debut against Holland in Amsterdam last month and Mourinho canvassed the opinion of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole about him on their return.

He received glowing reports and was told Richards is the real deal. For Richards, the prospect of becoming an instant first-choice for the champions and making his name at Stamford Bridge could be too great a temptation to resist.

The youngsters family and advisors have been wary of Chelseas interest, having seen Shaun Wright-Phillips take the same path from Manchester only to end up on the bench. But Mourinho has made it clear Richards will deputise for Terry in central defence and then solve his problem right-back position for the rest of the season.

Part of the allure for Richards is the promise he will be groomed as a central defender to become a long-term partner for Terry. Playing alongside the England captain, still only 26, will surely see him become a regular for his country far quicker than he might imagine. International managers are very keen on good partnerships all the way through the centre of a team.

You have less time to work with players at international level so anyone who has an understanding with another player at club level has an instant advantage.

The man who was death SG

not a bad business for city since they still have trabelsi Mr. Green

R3SsH|n SG

hope this is not true…

alwaysdisturbed SG

city has to keep away from temptations and be patient.

if clubs keep selling their young players because of such money and do not know if he can be consistent, then they'll never get any better.

Inzaghi SG

would be stupid for him to go chelsea..he will be there as a backup nia…look at how many players end up in chelsea n having their career destroyed??..SWP would be better if he end up in other team like Arsenal..

Patrik SG

Me too.