Chelsea receive transfer boost

Chelsea fans are getting more and more giddy as the end of the season approaches and the latest claim from the Daily Star is not going to change this mood.



The club are already preparing for not only the departure of the interim one Rafael Benitez but the long awaited return of their Special One Jose Mourinho and now have been placed at the front of the cue to sign sensational Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski.



With all the talk about Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani, we let Lewandowski slip under the radar – that is until he made what Gareth Bale did to Maicon look positively like child’s play in his destruction of Real Madrid scoring four goals and becoming the first player since Lionel Messi scored five against Bayer Leverkusen to get a 10/10 in L’Equipe’s player ratings – no wonder Jose Mourinho wants the Pole!



Now it is claimed that the forward’s current club Borussia Dortmund are desperate to stop him joining rivals Bayern Munich after relations considerably soured after their ill-timed purchase of Mario Gotze and now will try to push through a move to Chelsea just to spite Bayern.



Given Chelsea are willing to offer Kevin de Bruyne as part of the deal that should act as something of a sweetener given how well the player has done on loan at Werder Bremen this term this could well push the Blues ahead of Manchester United in the transfer race to land the former Lech Poznan star.

Chelsea star sets target

Chelsea attacker Juan Mata is confident that they can finish in third place at the end of the season after their 1-0 win over Manchester United.



The result means that Tottenham Hotspur have to beat the Blues on Wednesday in order to stop them securing a top-four finish in goal difference.



Vital win



Speaking to Sky Sports, Mata said: “It was a very, very important victory for us, it was like a final and we have another great game to come next week, so we will try to win and get closer to our aim, which is third.”



The Spaniard, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, and he thinks that he has plenty more goals in his locker.



“It is true that I am scoring more goals than ever and I’m really happy. The only thing I want is to keep scoring and keep up my assists to help my team until the end.”



Unbeaten finish



The 25-year-old is confident that his side will end up playing in the Champions League next season.



“We have three more Premier League games to play and the only the thing we want is to win every game because I think Chelsea deserve to play in the Champions League next season.



“If we play like we did today then I think we can do it.”



As well as pressing for a top-four finish, Chelsea could be in line for European silverware at the end of the season as they face Benfica in the final of the Europa League in Amsterdam.

Liverpool contemplating Barca swoop

Liverpool are once again looking into the possibility of signing Barcelona striker David Villa, according to The Mirror.



Kop boss Brendan Rodgers has been forced to rethink his attacking strategy after Luis Suarez was hit with a 10-match ban after a bizarre bite on Brainslav Ivanovic.



Bargain Hunt



Rodgers is hoping to land the Spaniard on a cut-price deal after they failed to secure him in a loan deal in the January transfer window.



Villa is said to be unhappy with his part-time role at the Nou Camp and could be pushed further back in the squad if the Catalan giants complete the signing of Neymar.



Although Liverpool have a transfer policy of only signing young players, Rodgers wants guaranteed talent, and 31-year-old Villa could be the answer.



Fears



As well as this, there could be the possibility that Liverpool have to sell Suarez in the summer transfer window, bringing the need for a new striker even higher up the list of priorities.



Meanwhile, Rodgers has insisted that Liverpool are still the best team on Merseyside, despite a 0-0 draw with Everton yesterday afternoon.

The top stories from papers and websites - 06 May 2013

• Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian star Fernandinho has issued a 'come and get me' plea to Manchester City.


• Joey Barton says he has both the brains and balls to become a manager when he hangs up his boots.


• Harry Redknapp was out scouting talent for next season's Championship bid before seeing relegated Rangers salvage some pride against Arsenal.

• Borussia Dortmund are desperate for Chelsea to beat off Bayern Munich and buy their star striker Robert Lewandowski.


• Stoke boss Tony Pulis has dismissed suggestions that star keeper Asmir Begovic has already been sold.


• Cesc Fabregas would like to return to Arsenal if Barcelona decide to sell him this summer.

• Hull City boss Steve Bruce is ready to give keeper Chris Kirkland a Premier League swansong.


• Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to make Valencia's Spanish ace Victor Ruiz his first signing at St Mary's.


• Reading's Hal Robson-Kanu is a £2.5million target for Cardiff.


• Wigan's Spanish centre-half Roman Golobart is ready to quit at the end of the season.


• Bolton boss Dougie Freedman wants Jermaine Beckford to fire his side to promotion next season.

• Frank Lampard has been told that he will be offered a new one-year contract by Chelsea.


• Andre Villas-Boas believes Chelsea are still in ''turmoil'' 14 months after his departure and says that the managerial changes since he left reassure him that his sacking was no reflection of his own abilities as a head coach.

• Liverpool are looking to sign Brazilian defender Douglas on a free transfer.


• Pepe Reina has again been linked with Barcelona.


• Man City are stepping up interest in Italy defender Davide Astori.


• Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is also determined to land Napoli striker Edinson Cavani this summer.


• Everton and Stoke will rival Swansea for QPR winger Junior Hoilett.


• Man United are considering a move for Colmbia U20 international midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero.

Wenger rules out PSG

Arsene Wenger has dismissed speculation linking him with Paris Saint-Germain by insisting he still loves his job at Arsenal.

Wenger has faced criticism this season after the Gunners again failed to land a trophy and his relationship with the fans has been strained by a string of dismal results.

Reports suggested the Frenchman could cut short his lengthy spell at Arsenal and link-up with Paris Saint-Germain before his contract runs out in 2014.

But Wenger has ruled out a return to his home country as he remains passionate about his job at the Emirates and hopes to even extend his reign.

When asked about his future, he said:

"I answered that question already. I respect my contracts. Football excites me...my love for this club excites me."

Questioned about a possible new deal, Wenger added:

"I want to stay if I do well, if the club considers I do well."

Arsenal will be hoping to maintain their push for a Champions League place on Saturday with a win over QPR, who were relegated last weekend, but Wenger refuses to write off the west Londoners.

"Every game gives you a different problem. Everybody is really focused and wants to do well," he said.

"All their recent games have been tight. We want to make sure this little percentage goes for us.

"It can happen that they play with less pressure and less fear [after being relegated]."

Arsenal will end their difficult campaign on a high if they finish in the top four and Wenger insists that progress has been made.

"Since January, we have become stronger and stronger. That's important going into next season," he said.

"We had to rebuild the team in the last two seasons. We have moved forward in the second part of this season considerably.

"I want this club to do well. We have gone through a sensitive period but I believe the club is in a good position for the future.

"I do my job with a lot of commitment and a lot of loyalty. I try to do as best as I can for this club."

Fenerbahce's Gonul was KO'd in Euro tie

Fenerbahce's Gokhan Gonul suffered a scary injury in the second leg of his side's Europa League semifinal against Benfica.

With the aggregate score at 2-2 and Fenerbahce leading on their away goal in the 57th minute, Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan tried to reign in a high cross, but ended up kicking Gonul in the face instead.

Gonul was unconscious and bleeding from the mouth, but Gaitan wasn't booked for the high boot. Gonul was taken to the hospital and, according to the Daily Mail, he needed stitches on his lip and "lost some teeth."

Benfica went on to score a winner in the 65th minute, sending them to the Europa League final, where they will play Chelsea. Lucky for Fernando Torres, he already wears a face mask.

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Gerrard: Duo lifted Liverpool

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool would have been challenging for a top four spot if Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho had joined earlier in the season.



The Reds are sitting in seventh in the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of Arsenal in fourth, and their push for a Champions League place was hampered by inconsistent form.



But the January arrivals of Coutinho and Sturridge added some attacking impetus to the team and both players have made a big impact at Anfield.



Sturridge has netted nine goals for Liverpool, including two in last weekend's 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle, while Coutinho continues to impress in midfield and Gerrard believes the duo could have dragged the team further up the table.

Gerrard said

"I don't really like jumping ahead but for me there's a lot of optimism,"



"When you make signings you need to contribute. If they are attacking players, you need them to score and set up goals and be better than we already have.



"Sturridge and Coutinho are both signings for the starting XI, and they can both be even better next season.



"I'm convinced they will be two big players for us.



"And if you add another striker to that and you have Luis coming back (from a 10-match ban), then that's the firepower we need to be challenging nearer to the top four.



"In fact, if we had got in Sturridge and Coutinho at the start of the season then I think we'd have been right up there among the top four."

Liverpool face Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby and Brendan Rodgers' side will finish below their near-neighbours if they are defeated at Anfield.

Gerrard admits that Everton have enjoyed a steady season, but insists that Liverpool can still take some positives from their own campaign.

"Yes, Everton have been consistent, but they are still only sixth," he said.



"They have had a good season but maybe their targets were slightly different to others around them in the table.



"For real consistency, the example has to be Manchester United. Not Everton.



"Liverpool, though, is my main concern. Our target at the start of the season was the top four so it's clear our consistency hasn't been good enough.



"I'm not really a stats man, I prefer to look at the bigger picture, but if you look at our amount of goals and clean sheets, it's clear we are moving in the right direction.



"It's not all gloom and doom. We've played some fantastic stuff this season, and besides a handful of games we've always been in with a shout."

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