Thursday October 11,2007
By Harry Harris
AVRAM GRANT has told Roman Abramovich that he wants to buy Kaka even if it costs him £100million.
Grant is in the process of stamping his own mark on the new Chelsea and Kaka is No1 on his list of potential signings.
“Kaka is certainly a long-term target, and if there is any chance of getting him then Avram will try to make it happen. Avram likes Kaka very much and has told Abramovich he is a good investment, even at £100m,” said my source last night.
“Of course all the wealthiest clubs in the world want Kaka, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, but only Chelsea could really afford him. Milan are not sellers but you never know if Chelsea made a big enough offer.”
If there is any chance of getting him then Avram will try to make it happen.
Chelsea have made approaches for Kaka twice before but were told to forget it by Milan. But Grant is far more convinced than Jose Mourinho ever was that Kaka is the kind of player that would take Chelsea on to a new level of attacking football.
The Chelsea link has been fuelled by the brilliant young Brazilian making an enigmatic statement yesterday that he would like to play in English football, although he cited United and Arsenal as the more attack-conscious clubs he would prefer to join.
Grant wants to move forward from the Mourinho regime and make Chelsea more adventurous and sees Kaka as a far better option than the ageing, disco-loving Ronaldinho, who has also been linked with the club.
Abramovich is the only owner able to offer Kaka a bigger contract than Milan and also afford the astronomical buy-out price. Although the package to recruit Kaka could well cost in excess of £100m, it is believed Abramovich is willing to make the gesture for Grant.
Towards the bitter end of Mourinho’s reign the Russian firmly closed his wallet. Only Abramovich can afford such a figure and I understand that soundings have already been taken to bring Kaka to the Bridge, if not in the short term, then certainly sooner rather than later.
Kaka insists he is content with his current club but did not rule out one day playing in England. “I’m very happy at Milan and I don’t expect that situation to change,” he said. “But if you want to talk hypothetically, if I were ever to leave it would have to be for a club of equal stature, and I think I would only find that in England or Spain.
“Manchester United are a wonderful side – I like Arsenal too. As for Chelsea and Liverpool, they are more tactically-orientated; they base themselves on solidity and organisation.”
Ronald Koeman, meanwhile, has called into question the credentials of Chelsea’s new assistant manager Henk ten Cate. Ten Cate arrived at Chelsea yesterday to finalise his switch from Ajax and the Blues believe they have got one of the best coaches in Europe following his successful spell as Frank Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona.
But PSV Eindhoven manager Koeman feels Ten Cate has been given more credit than he deserves for achievements at the Nou Camp and says he has failed to prove himself in Holland.
“Giving more importance to Ten Cate than Rijkaard for the successes at Barcelona in these last years is not good – and simply not right,” said Koeman. “I can’t understand how he can suddenly become coach of Chelsea when, at Ajax, they have failed to qualify for the Champions League in the last two years.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...ants-100m-Kaka
By Harry Harris
AVRAM GRANT has told Roman Abramovich that he wants to buy Kaka even if it costs him £100million.
Grant is in the process of stamping his own mark on the new Chelsea and Kaka is No1 on his list of potential signings.
“Kaka is certainly a long-term target, and if there is any chance of getting him then Avram will try to make it happen. Avram likes Kaka very much and has told Abramovich he is a good investment, even at £100m,” said my source last night.
“Of course all the wealthiest clubs in the world want Kaka, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, but only Chelsea could really afford him. Milan are not sellers but you never know if Chelsea made a big enough offer.”
If there is any chance of getting him then Avram will try to make it happen.
Chelsea have made approaches for Kaka twice before but were told to forget it by Milan. But Grant is far more convinced than Jose Mourinho ever was that Kaka is the kind of player that would take Chelsea on to a new level of attacking football.
The Chelsea link has been fuelled by the brilliant young Brazilian making an enigmatic statement yesterday that he would like to play in English football, although he cited United and Arsenal as the more attack-conscious clubs he would prefer to join.
Grant wants to move forward from the Mourinho regime and make Chelsea more adventurous and sees Kaka as a far better option than the ageing, disco-loving Ronaldinho, who has also been linked with the club.
Abramovich is the only owner able to offer Kaka a bigger contract than Milan and also afford the astronomical buy-out price. Although the package to recruit Kaka could well cost in excess of £100m, it is believed Abramovich is willing to make the gesture for Grant.
Towards the bitter end of Mourinho’s reign the Russian firmly closed his wallet. Only Abramovich can afford such a figure and I understand that soundings have already been taken to bring Kaka to the Bridge, if not in the short term, then certainly sooner rather than later.
Kaka insists he is content with his current club but did not rule out one day playing in England. “I’m very happy at Milan and I don’t expect that situation to change,” he said. “But if you want to talk hypothetically, if I were ever to leave it would have to be for a club of equal stature, and I think I would only find that in England or Spain.
“Manchester United are a wonderful side – I like Arsenal too. As for Chelsea and Liverpool, they are more tactically-orientated; they base themselves on solidity and organisation.”
Ronald Koeman, meanwhile, has called into question the credentials of Chelsea’s new assistant manager Henk ten Cate. Ten Cate arrived at Chelsea yesterday to finalise his switch from Ajax and the Blues believe they have got one of the best coaches in Europe following his successful spell as Frank Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona.
But PSV Eindhoven manager Koeman feels Ten Cate has been given more credit than he deserves for achievements at the Nou Camp and says he has failed to prove himself in Holland.
“Giving more importance to Ten Cate than Rijkaard for the successes at Barcelona in these last years is not good – and simply not right,” said Koeman. “I can’t understand how he can suddenly become coach of Chelsea when, at Ajax, they have failed to qualify for the Champions League in the last two years.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...ants-100m-Kaka
Bring Back Pako
Oh dear
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