Soccer: Claudio Ranieri emerged from talks with Chelsea's new owner saying the two saw eye to eye about turning the club into part of the European elite.
Speculation was rife that Roman Abramovich would look for a new manager to replace the 51-year-old Italian, with the England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roma's Fabio Capello suggested as potential candidates. But Ranieri was all smiles after his clear-the-air talks with the Russian billionaire.
"Roman is a polite man," said Ranieri on Chelsea TV. "It was interesting because he now knows my ideas and I know his. Roman said: 'I agree with your ideas. Continue with your job.' And so I will stay at Chelsea.
"There is now a good link - and it's very important for the future of Chelsea." He continued: "I only spoke about football with him. We want to put Chelsea at the same level as the big teams in Europe - Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal. We are ready. I'm very happy to stay at Chelsea." Ranieri revealed there had not yet been any concrete moves into the transfer market. "There has been a lot of speculation - but it's not true," he said. "Chelsea don't want all the players. We only want good ones. This is reality."
The future of Ronaldinho is set to be decided in the next 48 hours as Barcelona made a late bid to snatch the 23-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner from under the noses of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Brazilian star is due to return for pre-season training with current club Paris St Germain today - and a meeting has been set up with the team's new president Francis Graille.
The player's brother and agent, Roberto Assis, could not confirm reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta had submitted a new €30 million bid to sign the player from under the noses of United - who look to be favourites to land the player.
Earlier yesterday Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had appeared to retreat from the battle to sign the Brazilian - although he would only say that the player would not join the club this year.
He said: "The question of signings for next season is now closed. Yesterday we finished the signing of (Gabriel) Milito and with that we have now completed the four central defenders the club needs."
Radical changes to the UEFA Cup are expected to be announced today with European football chiefs set to introduce a group stage into the competition.
UEFA's executive committee meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, today and tomorrow is likely to result in a decision to bring in a group stage.
The most likely new format would see a two-legged first round with the 40 teams who come through going into a group phase, with eight groups of five teams. What would be revolutionary is that each team would play two home games and two away - decided on seeding - rather than playing each opponent home and away. The top three in each group would then be joined by the eight sides who come down from the Champions League and then the competition would become a knock-out - each round of two legs - to reduce 32 sides to a final two.
Yesterday FIFA also raised the prospect of their own revolution by announcing proposals to limit the number of clubs in domestic premier leagues to 16 teams. The proposals will be discussed at the world governing body's congress in October with a vote likely next May.
Sheffield United have confirmed former Republic of Ireland striker David Kelly will be appointed assistant manager before the end of the week.
Paul Gascoigne will train at West Ham in an attempt to return to fitness for a final season's football. Gascoigne, who is in a contract dispute with his Chinese club Gansu Tianma and refusing to return until he has been paid in full, was invited to join pre-season training at the Upton Park club by the manager Glenn Roeder.
Roeder said: "I spoke to Paul last week and he asked if there was a possibility of coming in for a week to brush up on his ball skills. It would not be a problem for me or the club and I'm sure the lads would enjoy having him around for a week.
"If I can help him get in shape, I'll do that."
Wolves have signed Portuguese midfielder Silas from Uniao Leiria on a four-year-contract for £1.5 million.
Romanian defender Cristian Chivu completed his €18 million move from Ajax to AS Roma yesterday after agreeing a five-year deal with the Serie A club.
Roma said in a statement that Chivu had agreed a deal which would see him earn €16.6 million over the five seasons.
The Italian club said they would pay the €18 million transfer fee in three instalments.
