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John Terry has urged Chelsea to do their utmost to sign AC Milan star Alexandre Pato after being told by David Beckham and Andriy Shevchenko that the Brazilian will make a big impact in the Premier League.
Striker Pato has already admitted he is interested in a move to Stamford Bridge and wants to talk to new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. AC Milan insist the 19-year-old, who joined from Brazilian club Internacional for £19.6million two years ago, is not for sale, especially having sold Kaka to Real Madrid in a world record deal this week.
After speaking with Beckham and Shevchenko, both of whom played with Pato at Milan this season, Terry believes it will be a major coup if they capture the player. He told Standard Sport: "I have heard some great things about him from those two. They say how good a player he is, so it will be brilliant if Chelsea could sign him.
"It is great to hear he wants to talk to the new manager. I want Chelsea to be linked with the best players in the world, as I'm sure the fans do, and he is definitely one of those. He is fantastic.”
Chelsea are being linked with a number of top players in England and abroad. As well as Pato, Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero is now wanted after David Villa made it clear he is interested in joining Real Madrid.
Chelsea have been looking at the Argentina international since last summer.
Chief executive Peter Kenyon is understood to have begun negotiations with the Spanish club over a £40m deal but the striker's pay demands could scupper a move. He is reportedly asking for £160,000 a week after tax but Chelsea are not willing to make the 21-year-old the highest-paid player at the club, even though they are desperate to bring in a striker of his quality to improve their front-line.
While Terry admits attracting star names is important, he insists it is just as vital Chelsea secure Ashley Cole on a long-term contract. The full-back has yet to agree terms on a new deal and is wanted by Spanish giants Barcelona, who are prepared to spend £20m to land the 28-year-old England star.
Cole has two years remaining on his contract but is looking for a pay rise that will see his salary climb from around £80,000 to £130,000 a week.
Terry said: “He has been brilliant for club and country and I really want his contract to get resolved at Chelsea. I hope it gets done because it is very important we keep players like Ashley as well as adding to our squad. He has been in fantastic form.
“I will be in contact with him and the club over the summer to see if it gets done. He has fully proved himself.
“The fans love him and the players do too, we gave him our Players' Player of the Year Award.
“It's a nice boost for him as well, you can see him playing with a lot of confidence and for me is one of the best left-backs in the world. It is very important we keep him at the club.”
Reader views (3)
@ Charlie,
On the contrary, I think everybody understands the Chelsea "module". But while you and other Chelsea fans are burying your head in the sand, I should like to point out there's a real world going on that apparently doesn't seem to disturb the CFC fantasy land. Businesses are going under, jobs are being lost and people all over the world are pulling back from the lifestyles to which they are used in order to make ends meet. Chelsea, are not a business that can remotely claim to have bucked this global trend by operating at a profit now or within the last five years, during which time they have run up over 6oo million pounds of debt from football operations alone. The claims of your chief executive, Peter Kenyon, as to the prudent running of your beloved club with an aim of sustainable operating profitability by 2010 are a sham and it is ridiculous to note that with a wage bill topping 172 million pounds last year, representing over 80% of income, the club appear prepared to embark on another wild spending spree. So, have the temerity to cite Liverpool as an example, if you wish, to deflect from the reality of Chelsea's own tenuous situation but I would respectfully suggest you enjoy waving your celery stick around now as I wouldn't bank on you having somewhere to do so 5 years from now.
- Speed Racer, Tokyo, Japan
Speed Racer.
You have absolutely no idea or comprehension as to how the Chelsea FC module operates, i.e. no Bank, Finance House borrowing. Whether you, or anyone else for that matter, like it the owner can, and will, spend his dosh how and on whom he wishes. Have a look at Real Madrid's books or indeed the catastrophe that's on the cards at Anfield, before spouting off about a financially stable football club. You might not like the way its run but that, as they say, is tough.
Although the unelected leader of our present UK government would like us all to keep quiet and submit, we still have freedom of speech here and JT, as Captain of CFC and someone Mr. Abramovich counsels regularly, has every right to air his views.
Reading between the lines of your post, I'd say there is more than a hint of jealousy in there.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire
Terry should keep his opinions on transfer targets and contract negotiations to himself. Chelsea already pay an obscene amount in player salaries - an amount that bears no relation whatsoever to their annual turnover - and now we have this grossly overpaid individual advocating that the club forks out a ridiculous sum for a 19 year old and a 50% pay hike to a FULL BACK who's already on 80K a week!! Leave the money matters to the front office, Terry; even though they don't seem to have any more fiscal sense or responsibility than you do.
- Speed Racer, Tokyo, Japan
