Chelsea’s GREATEST European nights – Blues leave Arsenal, Liverpool and Barca in their wake
From thrashing Roma at Stamford Bridge in 1965 where Terry Venables scored a marvellous hat-trick to coming back from a 2-0 first leg deficit against Bruges in 1971, Chelsea have had some magical nights in European competition and will want to add victory over Bayern to the list. Here are some of our favourite Blues matches from recent years.
Bojan insists he is happy at Roma amid Liverpool link
Liverpool target Bojan Krkic insists he is happy at Roma despite a miserable debut season in Serie A.
The highly-rated striker, still only 21, left Barcelona last summer after 11 years at the club when Luis Enrique paid an initial £10m for his services.
But after Enrique confirmed he is set to leave Roma after just one mixed season in charge, it has been suggested that Bojan could follow him out of the exit.
The Spain international scored just seven goals in 33 Serie A appearances as he struggled to adapt to life in Italy.
Chelsea, Madrid and Roma in three-way fight for Dutch star
Chelsea will face a battle with Real Madrid and Roma to land Gregory Van Der Wiel.
The Ajax right-back looked all set to join Valencia this summer but advanced talks have broken down.
Van Der Wiel is still expected to depart Amsterdam in the summer as he looks for a new challenge - and Chelsea could be ready to make their move.
Liverpool and Schalke chasing Roma star
Reds keen on former Barca starlet Bojan Krkic but will have to see off Bundesliga sideManchester City sign Roma’s David Pizarro on loan for rest of season
Chilean midfielder David Pizarro joins Manchester City on loan from Roma for the rest of the season.Giallorossi linked with Spurs defender
Italian giants AS Roma have been linked with a move with Tottenham Hotspur’s Croatian defender Vedran Corluka. Corluka has been largely restricted to warming the benches at White Hart Lane this season after the meteoric rise of young England full back Kyle Walker, who has firmly established himself as Spurs’ no.1 on the right side of defence, and Roma are said to be open to taking him on loan.
Corluka’s last Premier League start was in the 5-1 loss to Manchester City in August. Harry Redknapp is said to want him to stay in order to preserve his side’s depth but Corluka wants first team football, with one eye on Croatia’s upcoming Euro 2012 campaign in Poland and Ukraine.
City inch closer to De Rossi capture
According to reports, Manchester City have gone a step closer towards completing the signing of Daniele de Rossi. The Italian midfielder, who currently plies his trade for Roma, is set to become the Citizens’ first signing of the winter transfer window, with an announcement immediately on the anvil after Carlos Tevez’s departure.
Mancini has been a long term admirer of De Rossi and the presence of an Italian at Eastlands has influenced De Rossi’s thinking. The medio, along with Francesco Totti, is one of Roma’s legends and has been with the club since 2001.
De Rossi’s contract expires at the end of the season and contract renewal negotiations between the medio and the Giallorossi have so far been to no avail. Roma are now prepared to offer him €6m an annum plus a release clause of €25m incase Roma don’t meet their required 2011/12 season targets.
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Sporting, Roma target Savic
Sporting Lisbon and AS Roma are being quoted as possible winter destinations for Manchester City defender Stefan Savic. The young Montenegrin has struggled for playing time at Eastlands since arriving in the summer and is prepared to move out on loan in order to fulfill his ambitions.
Portuguese outfit Sporting were interested in securing Savic’s services on a permanent basis before he opted for City and remain hopeful of getting him down south to Lisbon.
But Sporting face competition from Italian giants Roma, where Luis Enrique is quietly going about his job of making the Giallorossi a formidable European force.
Savic’s agent has already confirmed that his client will leave the Etihad on a short team deal next month.
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Newcastle close to completing Santon signing
Newcastle United have inched closer to the signing of Inter starlet Davide Santon after reportedly agreeing a £5m fee with the Nerazzurri for the 20 year old’s services. The Magpies turned their eye to Santon following breakdown of talks with PSV Eindhoven over Erik Pieters. However they face competition for Santon’s signing from Roma, who have also shown interest in acquiring the left back.
Santon is a versatile player- he can operate on both sides of defence. Despite being only 20, he has already been capped by the Italian national team and has often been likened to Azzurri legend Paolo Maldini.
Santon spent the latter half of the 10/11 season on loan at Cesena.
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