Chelsea are preparing to firm-up their interest in Santos striker Neymar by matching the Brazilian side's £30 million valuation. But the Blues will not be selling England under 21 striker Daniel Sturridge to fund the deal, according to the Sunday Telegraph. The Premier League runners-up have been trailing Neymar for more than 12 months, but have never convinced Santos to sell. The time for a deal could have arrived though, as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich plots to build a team around the 19-year-old. The Blues will stump up the £30 million asking price and give the teenager sensation a £70,000 a week contract to make the move to Stamford Bridge. With many onlookers backing Sturridge to become a regular starter for Chelsea following his successful loan stint at Bolton, the transfer rumours raise new questions about his future at the club. But reports suggest Sturridge - who bagged eight goal in 12 games during his spell at the Reebok Stadium - would be retained even if Neymar did join. Bolton, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Spurs are all interested in securing Sturridge's services, but Chelsea rate him at £20 million in an attempt to thwart interest in the youngster.
Stopthepress Your valuable contribution to this thread has been noted for statistical analysis (with emphasis on anal)
Even at £30m he only needs to score 2 goals in a season to be better value than Torres was last season! So on that basis, assuming everyone is happy with Torres, then this should be a right bargain. What are the odds Torres is going to score at least 1 hat-trick against us, now I have ridiculed him On a serious note - how do you Chelsea fans view these rediculous transfer fees? Is it something you now feel obliged to do - to keep up with the pace at the top? or does it worry the hello out of, as one day the bubble is likely to burst?
What's to worry about? We're one of the best teams in Europe and being linked with some of the hottest property in World football. Nothing lasts forever and if the bubble bursts, so be it. You got to enjoy the ride.
Also, 30 million for the hottest young talent in Brazil seems a bargain given what Liverpool paid for the hottest young talent in a Caravan.
I feel Sanchez is the better option, head screwed on better and will be a world talent, last year we were linked with Silva and Toure and City snapped them up and they had excellent opening seasons, Neymar 30m Sanchez 30m Modric 27m Lukaku 18m Honda 0m De Bruyne 8-9m Rodwell 25m and a RB would be sorted Drogba 16m Essien 20m Malouda 7m Anelka 2m Bosingwa 6m Zhirkov 0m(Swap with Honda) Kalou 15m Alex 12m This is going to be a big summer Squad : GK = Cech, Hilario , Turnbull RB = ?????????, Ivanovic, Bertrand CB = Terry, Luiz, Ivanovic, Rodwell LB = Cole, Bertrand , Luiz CM = Modric, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Rodwell, Mceachran, Honda WG = Neymar, Sanchez, Sturridge, Honda Kakuta ST = Torres, Sturridge, Lukaku 22 man squad with 7 homegrown players and 4 under 21 players( kakuta possibly homegrown?????)
Bloody typical. The more stuff like this happens, the more our reputation as a world class club is going down the drain.
Some would have said that before we got Torres. I have faith that 2-3 quality signings will be made. We may have to wait until City and Madrid have finished but there are plenty of top players who seem available this summer.
I think we should buy players like Aguero and Pastore if we are going to shell out anything as they'll have plenty of time ahead of them. This is how I see it... Neymar - Real Madrid , Sanchez - City, Modric - Staying put, Lukaku - staying put, Honda - staying put or going to a continental team not PL, De Bruyne - Likely but we will ship him off somewhere on loan, Rodwell - United
Wouldn't disgaree with most of that. Lukaku I think will probably move and that still leaves the likes of Aguero and Pastore as 'available'. Barca will probably get either fabregas or Rossi and arsenal may get one of the lille attackers.
