Chelsea must learn from heavy sanction

The world football governing body FIFA has banned Chelsea FC from signing any players for the next two transfer windows, following a ruling that the club illegally approached Gael Kakuta to induce the player, now 18, to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

This means that the London side cannot register any new players “nationally or internationally” until January 2011 and must additionally pay the French side “training compensation” of €130,000

A brief Chelsea statement explained that they intend to “mount the strongest possible appeal” and believe the punishment does not merit the “alleged offence”.

Chelsea will make an appeal via the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), but added “We cannot comment further until we receive the full written rationale for this extraordinarily arbitrary decision.”

FIFA’s announcement explained:

“The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such breach.”

FIFA’s dispute resolution chamber also extended the punishment to Kakuta as an individual. The top scorer and player of the season in the Chelsea Academy last year despite a double ankle fracture in February 2009 must pay his former club compensation of €780,000 and cannot participate in any official matches for four months. He is yet to make an appearance for the Chelsea first team, but is returning to full fitness with the reserves this season.

Lens had made an official complaint to FIFA in 2007 when Kakuta, 16 at the time, decided to leave after Chelsea approached and President Gervais Martel declared his satisfaction with the verdict as it will discourage clubs.

“We expected this kind of decision. The player was under contract with us and they came and stole him away from us,” he said.

“Chelsea didn’t follow the rules. They contacted the player when he wasn’t even 16 and while he had been contracted to our training group from the age of eight.

“The financial sanction isn’t over the top given the nature of the infringement, but it’s really quite significant when it comes to not being able to recruit players.

“It’s an important message given that protecting up-and-coming youth players who are contracted to clubs is an issue being followed closely by Uefa president Michel Platini.”

This is not the first instance of Chelsea apparently tapping up the players, which may well have had an effect upon the ruling. The Premier League fined them £300,000 in 2005 following the capture of Arsenal defender Ashley Cole after a bitter transfer saga. However the severity of this punishment will be much harder felt than the small amount that will not have dented Roman Abramovitch’s pockets.

Manchester United have also recently been accused of tapping up a French youngster after signing Paul Pogba from Le Havre, who say the 16 year old had agreed to play for them this season, but a Manchester United spokesman rejected the suggestion: “It is complete nonsense. Everything has been done within Uefa (European governing body) guidelines.”

Everton determined to cling on to Lescott

Everton have rejected a transfer request from unsettled defender Joleon Lescott, who has been the subject of three large bids from big spending Manchester City.

Having failed to attract John Terry, Manchester City are clearly keen to boost their defensive options, and are now turning their attention towards luring the 26 year old England international to pair in central defence with new Arsenal signing Kolo Toure. However, the Toffees have dismissed each offer, thought to be £15m, £18m and £22m.

It is hardly surprising that Everton would willingly relinquish one of their prize assets to a club with which they are competing for a Champions League place and manager David Moyes stated on Everton’s website that Lescott is simply unavailable.

“I have always said that we are not selling any players and that has not changed.”

Moyes enjoys strong backing from his chairman and has so far refused to be bullied by Lescott or his suitors. The club’s admirable stance is supported by the fans, who applauded Lescott every time he touched the ball in Friday’s friendly against Malaga, despite making it clear that he wants to leave.

Upon receiving the second bid, which was “rejected outright,” Moyes claimed that nobody would be leaving the club without his blessing, and that Everton did not need to sell any of their stars.

Many will argue that Lescott may do well to show some loyalty, having transformed his career at Everton, whom he joined for £5m from Wolves in 2006. He has been a constant presence in Moyes’ team in the last two seasons and helped the Toffees qualify for Europe once more, establishing himself as an England international and one of the most respected Premier League defenders in the process.

City’s forward conduct has been susceptible to criticism on many fronts, and has angered Everton captain Phil Neville.

“The club have turned down two offers and the manager is not prepared to sell him. Let’s move on and let’s look forward to the new season.

“Will City get the message? The way they are going about their business, I don’t think they will. There are ways and means of doing things – and Everton do it the right way.”

There is certainly a world of difference between Manchester City and Everton’s transfer policy!

Barcelona and Inter Milan agree an extraordinary swap deal

Barcelona have made an agreement with Inter Milan to sign striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in exchange for Samuel Eto’o plus a fee of around £35 million and a one year loan deal for Alex Hleb.

Both teams won their respective leagues last season, but with heavy spending rivals Real Madrid making waves in the transfer market, Barcelona are now looking to make their first big signing.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that all the remains is for the players to agree terms. “The signing depends on Ibrahimovic, on Eto’o and all parties.”

The agreement seems a remarkable imbalance: given Manchester City’s bid of approximately £20m for 28 year old Samuel Eto’o, some may argue that the combined fee for Ibrahimovic, just one year younger, is highly inflated and not justifiable.

Inter boss Jose Mourinho describes the Ibrahimovic as “the most talented player he has ever worked with” and “better than Cristiano Ronaldo”. Ibrahimovic has impressed at Europe’s premier clubs, which boasts spells at Ajax and Juventus after beginning his career in his native Malmo.

However, many remain unconvinced by the Swede, despite finishing top scorer in Seria A last season with 20 goals and a goals-to-games ratio higher than 1 in 2 in the last two seasons, due to his failure to shine in European competition In contrast, Eto’o has a proven track record on every level, scoring more than 100 goals in five seasons at Barca as well as goals in two Champions League finals.

But the Cameroon international, whose contract expires in 12 months time, had been strongly linked with moves away from the Champions League winners, notably Manchester City before they ran out of patience at delaying tactics.

Another player the Catalans are being strongly linked with is Valencia’s David Villa, but they may well face competition from Real Madrid and Liverpool.

This is the second deal arranged between the two clubs this year, as full back Maxwell has also joined Barcelona for £3.9 million.

Be ready to raise your eyebrows: the Manchester City show has opened!

Manchester City have made a clear statement of intent this summer by capturing Carlos Tevez, with Emmanuel Adebayor likely to follow and John Terry a possible further addition.

After a high profile takeover last summer, Mark Hughes swiftly added Craig Bellamy to his ranks and has this year acquired Roque Santa Cruz, whom he coached at Blackburn, following a drawn out transfer saga, in addition to the sensational last minute capture of Robinho for a British transfer record. However, it is City’s renewed quest this year for the biggest household names that have set the wheels in motion and worried some of the biggest names in European football.

An audacious £100 million bid to purchase Kaka in January was not far from becoming a reality, although the player rejected terms, and had Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o accepted the contract offer, he would have become the highest player in the world. Despite these rejections, it showed that City can compete for the most sought after names and suddenly football’s superstars are turning their heads towards Eastlands. City’s galactic ambitions are materialising.

Carlos Tevez, 25 year old Argentinian international, feared by defences across the Premiership and wanted by Liverpool and Chelsea for around £25 million, if sources are to be believed, was lured away from bitter rivals United in favour of the blue half of the Manchester.

Emmanuel Adebayor has today passed a medical at Manchester City and looks to be leaving the Emirate Stadium in the coming days, provided he is granted a work permit. Arsène Wenger rarely unwillingly releases his top players, and it remains to be seen whether the departure of the Togo striker, whose suitors twelve months ago were allegedly Chelsea, AC and Inter Milan, is a welcome one.

Gareth Barry’s story is a similar one: Aston Villa managed to block the England international’s transfer to Liverpool a year ago but he now moves for £12m.

Chelsea, having practiced similar tactics when Roman Abramovich took over, no longer enjoy such superior wealth and now find themselves in the unusual situation of fighting to keep one of their most valuable assets to stay. City’s £30 million bid for captain John Terry has clearly unsettled the player and doubt has crept in where none was before.

It is an ominous sign that the Premier League’s wealthiest club is flexing its financial muscles and with seemingly limitless funds, the trend will most likely continue. Having successfully prised two high quality players from England’s top clubs, Tevez and Adebayor will be precisely the calibre of player that Mark Hughes is looking to attract, and it may now become easier to bring more to Eastlands.

The challenge for Hughes will be managing a dressing room that contains several high profile players whilst satisfying his chairmen. An improvement on last year’s 10th position will surely be expected, or the Welshman may find some heavy pressure being exerted upon him.

The biggest transfer in world history…and the biggest ego

So, Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United for a new galácticos era at Real Madrid, orchestrated by recently re-elected president Florentino Perez.

Ronaldo commented on his departure that he now believes the Spanish league will have a slight edge in superiority over the Premiership. Real Madrid are to pay United a staggering £80 million, which in this current climate means you can run a Formula 1 team for a season and probably still have some change left over to buy Newcastle United. 

The fee to be paid is new world transfer record, surpassing the Kaka transfer a few days beforehand. Much has been said on the subject, so here is a selection of quotes that took my fancy.

 ”I think it’s a fair figure” – Cristiano Ronaldo

 The great players cost a lot of money and if you want them you have to pay it, I’m happy to be the most expensive player in the world” – Cristiano Ronaldo

 ”Special players are maybe worth that. When you are good, when you are a special player, you are more expensive than the other ones. That’s normal.” – Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with the Mirror.

 ”It’s true lots of people hate me, but there are even more who love me and who support me. I feel bad only when I play badly. Fortunately that happens rarely.” – Cristiano Ronaldo

 ”I felt the love of the people.” – Cristiano Ronaldo mixing with the 80,000 at the Bernabeu, after some of the crowd attempted a pitch invasion.

 ”When you fall out with Sir Alex, whatever reason […] you’re on their way.” -Tommy Docherty (former Man Utd player) 

 “Footballers are like construction machines. When I buy a new digger, I buy the best quality, the most expensive I can find, because it is a good investment that will last me many years.” – Florentino Perez, Real Madrid President

 ”The hair-gel industry in north-west England suffered a catastrophic blow on Thursday.” - The Los Angeles Times demonstrates its acute awareness of the English game.

Hull transfer looms for Zamora

Hull City have launched a bid described by Tigers boss Phil Brown as “firm and substantial” for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, thought to be in the region of £4 million, according to the Yorkshire Post.

Having only narrowly avoided relegation thanks to Newcastle’s defeat on the last day of the season, the Tigers are looking to boost their options for the coming season and Brown confirms they are currently chasing four players, one of whom is 28 year old Zamora.

“There are substantial bids on the table for four players, one of them being Bobby Zamora.”

The Tigers are waiting to hear from Fulham whether they have permission to talk to the player.

Hull are in the market for a striker this summer, having made an ambitious offer to lure Michael Owen to the KC stadium before he opted for Manchester United, and missing out on Marc-Antoine Fortune, who rejoins former West Brom boss Tony Mowbray at Celtic.

Despite agreeing a fee with Manchester United, Hull also seem set to miss out on Frazier Campbell, who appears to be heading to Sunderland.

As a Fulham fan, it would be a shame to see Zamora leave, but the transfer would make good business sense for the club, who paid West Ham a combined fee of £6.1 million to purchase the former England U21 along with John Paintsil last summer.

Zamora made his Fulham debut against Hull City in the opening match of the Premier league.

Undoubtedly a hard worker and a chaser of a lost cause, Zamora’s relatively poor return of 2 goals in 32 league appearances may perhaps cause Roy Hodgson to search for other options.

He has had previous spells with Bristol Rovers, Bath City (loan) before establishing himself at Brighton & Hove Albion and earning a high profile move to Tottenham.

Fulham are likely to want to find a replacement striker before allowing Zamora to leave.

“We have an understanding with Fulham but nothing will happen unless they get a striker in,” said Hull Chairman Paul Duffen.

Fulham appear to be one of the clubs in the chase for Peter Crouch, who Portsmouth would make available for £10-12 million.