Robben to reject Bayern and fight for Chelsea future

The winger has reached an impasse with the club over a new contract and with only two years left on his deal has been linked with a move.

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Bayern Munich are understood to be interested and have money to spend after agreeing an £18million deal with Manchester United for Owen Hargreaves.

But Robben is settled in London and keen to stay at Chelsea, particularly after appearing to patch up his often difficult relationship with Jose Mourinho.

Furthermore, the fact Munich failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga makes them a less-attractive proposition.

Robben played for 63 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 extra-time FA Cup Final win against United despite lacking fitness after knee surgery and was praised by the head coach, who claimed his attitude was "brilliant".

The Dutchman insisted: "I will be here next season, that is for sure. I always said I wanted to stay. I was very happy with Jose's comments. It is always nice to hear. You do it for the team and want to work your socks off to make a contribution.

"I have a nice break now - six-and-a-half weeks - with no international games so I will come back next season fresh. I want to show again what I did in my first season."

Robben, 23, is in a similar position to John Terry and Frank Lampard, who are also waiting for acceptable contract offers from the club.

Since the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack on £130,000-a-week deals last summer, key players have raised their salary expectations.

The England internationals want parity and with two years left may adopt the likely tactic for Robben: to stay and run down his deal, and therefore his transfer value, until further talks next summer.

Terry is upset with the way the club have negotiated, suggesting a nine-year deal and then backtracking and offering no more than five.

Lampard, 29 next month, is still waiting for a concrete offer and it is understood no further talks have been scheduled yet.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon admitted he is not 100 per cent certain he will get agreements but is optimistic of tieing Terry and Lampard down to long-term deals before July.

Terry, 26, said: "I would never put in a transfer request. We didn't want to talk in the build up to the Cup Final. It's not right going into these games with things on your mind or being unhappy. Hopefully, things will be resolved. I'd like to see it resolved as soon as possible."

Shevchenko was told yesterday by Kenyon he will not be leaving. The striker has endured a difficult relationship with Mourinho and was thought to be open to the possibility of a new challenge.

But Kenyon said: "It's not going to happen [selling Shevchenko and Ballack]. We brought both in for three and four years, we didn't bring them in for a season and we knew full well what their capabilities are and their prospects.

"I'm confident they're going to be here as big players with Chelsea next season. They feel they have a lot more to give. It takes time to settle in."

Shevchenko will want to up his performance levels to that of Michael Essien next season who again put in a magnificent display in defence.

Essien, though, believed Petr Cech deserved more of the praise for helping beat United.

The Czech Republic made several key saves, claiming bravely at the feet of Wayne Rooney and blocking a Ryan Giggs goal-line effort.

Essien, who filled in as a centre-back in front of Cech, said: "He was fantastic. Today he proved again the is one of the best keepers in the world.

"We believed in Petr when there was a chance for Giggs to score and he showed how brave he was when he dived at the striker's feet."