Morning:
5°c
Ashley Cole insisted that Manchester City's spending power has every member of the big four running scared.
City have already signed Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor for a total of £80million this summer and they are determined not to stop there.
Reports this morning suggest the club's Arab owners are so determined to sign John Terry that they will offer him £250,000 per week in wages and pay Chelsea £50m.
City boss Mark Hughes is preparing to make his last-ditch move after the Blues skipper gave his first indications to owner Roman Abramovich that he is willing to sign a new deal to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Even if they are unable to land Terry, Cole believes City will still pose a major threat next season and have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
The left-back, currently on tour in America with the rest of the Chelsea squad, said: "Everyone in the top four is vulnerable. You see the players that have left, like Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, and you're going to miss players like that.
"City seem to have attracted some good players in Barry, Tevez and Adebayor and they will be a threat.
"It's only going to improve the League and make it tougher. That is a good thing but I just hope they don't finish above us.
"I wouldn't like to say that City will definitely finish in the top four because it does take time for players to gel but it's made it more interesting and exciting for the neutral."
City's success in the transfer market is in contrast to that of Chelsea, who have so far failed to sign the 'marquee' player they crave.
Cole is hoping that the club will be able to change that soon and give the squad a lift with the start of the new season three weeks away.
He added: "Our squad is very strong but it's always nice to see big players coming to this big club. It's always a boost for the current players to see new ones coming in."
Reader views (14)
ALEX FROM LONDON ARE YOU PUDDLED CITY WILL BE BUST IN 4 YEARS MY ARSE THEY WILL BE CHAMPIONS DOMINIC ANOTHER 1 LET THE PLAY DO THE TALKING MUPPETS AND WATCH CITY THE BLUE MOON RISE....
- Kenny, Manchester, 24/07/2009 07:32
Report abuse
All you foreigners down in London, especially Alex, It will be impossible for City to go bust unlike Chelsea could do if Roman walks out. C.F.C. will be forced to return all the loans that Abramovich has laid in the Chelsea books, within 2 years. City on the other hand have "no debt at all" and the owner has given a £500 million gift to the club, which is to cover all transfer fees paid and all wages for the duration of each players contract, not 1 single penny has been accounted for as being 'in debt' or 'loaned' to Manchester City. Meaning all in all if they walk away we will still have a lot of money in terms of assets(players, money from the acadamy), plus we will be debt free. chelsea on the other hand could become insolvent and be forced to auction/sell their players. Adios pollon
- Dominic Mancunian_Fc, ManCunian_FC, Manchester,, 24/07/2009 05:54
Report abuse
john terry only needs to speak to the club not the press hes a profesional and the media are exploiting his non commital to speak as reasons for him intersted in city offer. 50 m is a lot for one player if he stays this is a non verbal commitment to chelsea and the future of football.
Chelsea will win the league
- James, london, 24/07/2009 01:00
Report abuse
If JT goes for 50m, then good, if he wants to go to classless, clueless Man City, take the money and spend it on another centre back and have some change for a classy mid fielder who can run at defenders.
JT is a CFC stalwart, he is NOT CFC, the fans are.
His leaving would not disrupt the club, and believe me Man City will win nowt this year or the two bob cup at best.
- Kerry, Purley, 23/07/2009 21:32
Report abuse
Peter Bench, London.
Of course he has to say something, you have fundamentally and spectacularly missed the point. A Club Captain, on a pre-season public relations tour (for that's what it is), selfishly refusing to make any statement or grant any interviews, quite clearly, in case he gets asked some awkward questions. It's farcical.
Whilst it can sometimes be a charming trait, in this instance try not to be quite so naive. Or remove your royal blue tinted glasses every now and again.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 23/07/2009 16:05
Report abuse
Everyone of even average intelligence (that rules out most British footballers, then) know that the ageing, almost past-it, 'Lead Legs' Terry isn't worth anything close to that walloping £50m.. So why do City want him at (almost) any cost? because he's Chelski's captain, talisman, leader, lucky charm (except when taking penalties, of course), his leaving would be a massive blow and leave the club angry, frustrated and in disarray. City probably don't actually want the old-timer as rebuilding master plan, but taking him away from Chelski will go a long way to taking them out of the Premiership top four/Champions League equation. Buy other teams' most important players and you don't even need to play them to feel the benefit.
- Paul H, London, UK, 23/07/2009 14:54
Report abuse
50 Million? I say sell him! With that money you could buy 3 solid replacements.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 23/07/2009 14:49
Report abuse
Where is the quote from A Cole that "..has every member of the big four running scared."? Which players have M City signed from one of these teams? And Charlie, why is it that Terry needs to say anything - we all know the papers will, like the ES, make up stories as they go along. E.g the Times on Tuesday saying Mikel hadn't been offered a contract and then Chelsea confirming officially yesterday he had signed one.
- Peter Bench, London, 23/07/2009 14:35
Report abuse
>John must not accept the bid.It is million times better to stay at Chelsea. John is the heart of Chelsea.If John is lost,Chealsea will suffer a great lose.
- Dipesh, kathmandu, 23/07/2009 14:17
Report abuse
So a million quid a month! Should be enough to keep his mum out of Tescos.
- Paul, London, 23/07/2009 13:54
Report abuse
Mark my words - City will be bust within 4 years.
- Alex, London, 23/07/2009 13:48
Report abuse
John Terry's deafening "wall of silence" tells its own story. Quite clearly his previously stated "love" for Chelsea is conditional and "forever" in JT's world is only on his terms.
Whatever happens his honour and integrity will be rightly questioned now and at all times in the future. What if Man. City come calling again - another implausible impersonation of a Trappist monk, resulting in another pay rise ?
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 23/07/2009 12:28
Report abuse
Dominic,
Shut up! You are NOT going to finish in the top 4 - you will be in the top 6 maybe top 7 next season - as if the players you have just bought will all gel and play the tidy football you blue's crave so badly within their 1st season together......
Such a naive attitude to have for a follower of a mediocre team.
I CAN comment on this as i follow Palace - no great shakes there and i do know what i am talking about, i have watched toilet football for years with my team.
- Gman, Kent, 23/07/2009 12:25
Report abuse
WOW, I thought i'd never hear it, a player at one of the top 4 clubs is actually seeing what City can achieve and is saying exactly what all fans have in their minds but are too scared to say it, because they would prefer to have a dig at City about how many strikers they have, even though we have the same as Chelsea and Liverpool, or how they wont win anything and will remain a mid-table club. For someone at Chelsea to say this must mean that the rest of the top for are also thinking similar, not only that but if he is saying this, I'm sure during training and so on, so are his team-mates thinking that they should be aware of City's threat.
NICE 1 Ashley, I might stay off your back for a season, apart from when you play City.
My prediction for premier league finish.
1.Chelsea
2.Liverpooh
3.ManUre
4.Mansour City Fc
5.Arsenal/Everton/Tottenham
- Dominic Mancunian_Fc, ManCunian_FC, Manchester,, 23/07/2009 09:46
Report abuse
