| Leeds United confident of Premier League return next season, says Ken Bates Leeds chairman Ken Bates optimistic club will be in contention for top flight return next season despite a slump in fortunes. telegraph.co.uk |
Liverpool receive two bids The board of Barclays Premier League club Liverpool have confirmed they have received "two excellent financial offers" to buy the club. foxsports.com.au |
Liverpool ownership animation Taiwanese animators offer their take on Liverpool takeover. telegraph.co.uk |
Hagi replaces Rijkaard as Galatasaray coach Galatasaray has named Gheorghe Hagi to replace Frank Rijkaard as coach of the Turkish club. cbc.ca |
Anelka keen to extend stay at Chelsea • French striker happy to sign new contract at Stamford Bridge• Ancelotti hopeful of securing GaГ«l Kakuta on long-term dealNicolas Anelka has told Chelsea he is ready to pledge his future to the club while the Blues wait for their France teenager GaГ«l Kakuta to make up his mind over a new deal.Anelka scored his 50th goal in Chelsea's colours in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Spartak Moscow in midweek and is in the best form of his career.The former France international has scored eight goals so far this season and is so content at Stamford Bridge that he is already looking to extend his contract at the end of the season."It is the first time I have scored that many for any club but it is the first time I have spent more than two and a half years at a club as well," said Anelka. "It shows how happy I am at Chelsea. When I first signed here I knew had arrived at a big club and I wanted to stay as long as possible."I don't know what will happen in the future. After this season I have one more year on my current deal and I will see what will happen because you never know. But I am very happy here and I would be glad to sign for more years."But while one Frenchman is ready to settle, the Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is still hoping that Kakuta will also commit himself to the club. The 19-year-old signed for Chelsea in 2007 but then suffered a broken ankle.He was banned for four months by Fifa in 2009 for breaching his contract with the French club in order to sign for the Blues. But this penalty and the subsequent ban on Chelsea signing players for two transfer windows were eventually quashed by the court of arbitration for sport.But his future is again on the agenda with his current deal set to expire next summer. "I don't discuss the salary of players," said Ancelotti. "Technically, it's best for Kakuta – he's young, he's trying to improve and we're the best team for him to stay with."He has to take a decision to sign or not. We're sure he'll sign because he's an intelligent player and an intelligent man."Chelsea take on Wolves at Stamford Bridge tomorrow with JosГ© Bosingwa set for his first start in a year following knee problems. The Blues also welcome back the striker Didier Drogba after a virus but there is still no return for the England midfielder Frank Lampard.Ancelotti was spared more questioning on the situation regarding Manchester United's Wayne Rooney when the news broke during Chelsea's pre-match press conference that the England player had signed a new five-year deal to stay at Old Trafford."I'm not surprised," said Ancelotti. "Manchester United are happy to keep a fantastic player. I think that Rooney did a fantastic job for Manchester United and, in the future, I think he will do the same."Chelseaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |