Chelsea's £10m bid for Chimbonda is tempting for Jol

[RiverWire]

Chelsea have lodged a £10million bid for Tottenham’s Pascal Chimbonda. Jose Mourinho has identified Chimbonda as the man to fill the problem right-back position at Stamford Bridge after being impressed by the France defender’s debut season at Spurs.

And while Martin Jol would be reluctant to lose his talented defender, Sportsmail understands that the chance to make a £5m profit on the player who moved from Wigan last summer may be too good to turn down

Mourinho has turned to Chimbonda after uninspiring performances at right back by Paulo Ferreira, Khalid Boulahrouz and Geremi this season.

Although Glen Johnson will return to Chelsea after a season on loan at Portsmouth, he is likely to play understudy to Chimbonda should the bid be successful.

Chimbonda has been a regular in Jol’s starting line-up this season, making 49 appearances in all competitions, and he has revealed his desire to stay with Spurs.

He said: "I’m very happy at Tottenham and really enjoyed my first season with the club. I hope that continues next year. I’m totally focused on Tottenham and have three years left on my contract."

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s path to the £6m capture of Southampton left back Gareth Bale appears to have been cleared with Manchester United unwilling to match their bid.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a committed fan of the 17-year-old Wales defender, but considers a transfer fee which could rise to £10m to be too expensive.

Chelsea are planning to capture another teenager, winger Jacob Mellis from Sheffield United.

Mellis was being lined up as a future star by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez after he shone against the Anfield youngsters in the FA Youth Cup this season.

But Chelsea have made a move to snap up the 16-year-old before he can complete his switch to Merseyside. Mellis has not signed a professional contract at Bramall Lane but Sheffield United would be due a compensation package.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has withdrawn from the Germany squad for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers after losing his battle to overcome an ankle injury.

Ballack, the German captain, hurt his left ankle in Chelsea’s goalless draw with Newcastle on April 22 and underwent surgery five days later in Germany.

Ballack’s withdrawal is the latest in a long line of injury blows for Germany with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Tim Borowski, Oliver Neuville, Gerald Asamoah and Mike Hanke also ruled out. Germany play San Marino on June 2 in Nuremberg and Slovakia on June 6 in Hamburg.

Source : www.dailymail.com

All i can say is Chimbo please dont Go !!!!!! , Chimbo is a fantastic player for us and well under rated as right backs go, £10 mill we wouldnt be able to get someone that could replace his quality JOL DONT DO IT !

[Beats]

Yea, don't sell him, we'll never get a decent replacement for less than 10mil :3:

[seesider]

should have sold him

[Keith THFC]

stop bumping old threads you special case!