News: Real Madrid are close to reaching agreement with Paris St-Germain about signing the much-coveted Ronaldinho.
The Spanish champions believe they can convince the Brazilian forward to agree a deal whereby he stays at PSG - effectively on loan - for a further season before moving to La Liga. That would suit the French club, as the financial package put forward by Real is worth significantly more than that on offer from Old Trafford.
United's bid of around £15 million was rebuffed by the PSG president Francis Graille last week, and the Premiership winners are reluctant to go much higher. Real have offered £16 million to take the player in 2004, but they would also be willing to write off around £8 million they are owed for Nicolas Anelka's £20.5 million move to Parc des Princes three years ago, effectively swelling their bid beyond United's reach.
"Manchester United and Real Madrid are still negotiating with the Paris St-Germain president," Ronaldinho's agent and brother Roberto Assis said yesterday. "But Real's offer is far more interesting for PSG because it would mean that the player would stay for another season in Paris. I'd expect a resolution this week."
Assis heads back to France from Spain this morning while Ronaldinho, who is under contract until 2006, is also expected back for pre-season training on Thursday. Although he is reluctant to remain in the French capital, he would be willing to defer a move for 12 months should the Real president Florentino Perez increase his salary during that 12-month "loan" to the level he would expect to earn at Real.
He will also seek confirmation as to where he will fit in next year although his arrival is likely to be marked by the departure of Luis Figo, with whom Perez is believed to have struck a deal whereby the Portuguese remains there in the build-up to €2004 - at which Figo will be a national figurehead - and is then allowed to make what should be his final major move.
Meanwhile Patrick Vieira has signed an extension to his Arsenal contract that will keep him at the club until 2006. "I want to stay here for a long time," said the 27-year-old midfielder, who becomes the best paid player in the club's history.
Real Madrid and Manchester United were keen to recruit the midfielder but will be disappointed he has signed a two-year extension to the 12 months he had left, worth more than £3 million per season.
"I want to win trophies with Arsenal," he said. "The next two or three years will be very important for the club's history."
Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord and Dennis Bergkamp have yet to extend their contracts at the club, a situation Vieira regards as "most important" to address.
The Frenchmen are set for talks on their return from holiday this month but discussions are continuing with Bergkamp's representatives. Nevertheless the Dutchman, a free agent since July 1st, seems ready to entertain approaches from other clubs before agreeing £20,000-a-week terms with Arsenal, about half his usual rate.
The Argentinian Sebastian Saja, meanwhile, who plays for San Lorenzo, has become the latest goalkeeper to link himself with a move to Highbury.
Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich has assured Claudio Ranieri he will not be ousted before the new season begins. The Italian can also expect to avail himself of the biggest purse in football provided Chelsea begin their tilt for a first title since 1955 in convincing fashion.
"Ranieri will start the season as manager," said a source close to Abramovich. "Before he was saying there was no money, that he was short of funds. Now he will get everything and he just has to deliver."
Ranieri's first task is to convince Abramovich of his pulling power. Though he will give the manager his head, the Russian wants a roster at Stamford Bridge to rival Real Madrid's.
Abramovich would ideally like to lure Alex Ferguson to Chelsea and Marcello Lippi, who could move abroad if his contract at Juventus is not extended beyond next season, would also be in the running to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Neither Ferguson nor Lippi would have difficulty in persuading football's finest to play under them and it is up to Ranieri to prove that he holds a similar attraction.
Lippi stands in the way of Ranieri's attempt to procure one of his principal transfer targets.
Chelsea have been linked with a £5 million bid for Edgar Davids, who has just 12 months to run on his Juventus contract. Lippi is keen to hang on to the Dutchman and Chelsea would need to improve their offer. Abramovich considers Thierry Henry to be the world's leading striker but the Frenchman is not ready to quit Highbury. Chelsea have instead earmarked Barcelona's Patrick Kluivert.
Everton intend to meet Paul Stretford over allegations that Wayne Rooney has become a target for gangsters on Merseyside and in London. They are concerned at the agent's claims that the 17-year-old faced "a very dangerous situation" with an extortion plot seeking to take a cut of his wages. "The claims being made are of a very serious nature," said a club spokesperson. "We do not, however, believe him to be at risk."
