Drogba future uncertain, admits Villas-Boas

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Didier Drogba’s Chelsea future remains unresolved — but insists Fernando Torres is going nowhere.

The prospect of both strikers remaining at the club has been thrown into doubt with Drogba tipped to follow Nicolas Anelka to China while there has been mounting speculation the Blues could be ready to cut their losses on Torres.

But Villas-Boas — whose side will attempt to secure a fourth successive Premier League win at Wigan this weekend — insists he is anxious to keep both forwards at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba, 33, has emerged as Villas-Boas’s first choice striker during Chelsea’s recent upturn in form but is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Speaking before the trip to Wigan, the manager admitted the length of any new deal was proving to be a sticking point — but is hopeful terms can be agreed.

“It’s between a two-year and a one-year and we’re waiting to make the best decision possible,” Villas-Boas said.

“The situation is on-going and we hope to solve it. Whatever the outcome or agreement, or non-agreement,there will be no question of his professionalism and integrity and he will keep on representing Chelsea this season.

“Didier’s importance is straightforward, it’s not just because he is performing now. The conversation has been on-going since the beginning and we’ll continue to push for that.

“It’s not up to me to speak about what is in Didier’s mind at the moment regarding his future.

“What I think is clear is that he is pretty much involved with Chelsea and his mindset is on competing with his colleagues for this club. That’s the most gratifying thing, the commitment from the player. His professionalism is not in question.”

Chelsea’s season has been revived in the last two weeks with victory over Valencia securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League before the 2-1 win over Manchester City left Villas-Boas’s side just seven points off the pace in the Premier League.

Torres, though, has been forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench, triggering reports the Spaniard might be offloaded for a cut-price £20 million, just 12 months after he arrived from Liverpool in a £50 million record deal.

Villas-Boas remains adamant the Spain international is not for sale, however. “It’s not true. I’m sorry,” he said. “He is not available at any price, for sure.”

Victory at the DW Stadium will reduce the gap on leaders Manchester City to just four points with Roberto Mancini’s side due to face Arsenal the following day.

And while Villas-Boas has no new injuries to contend with, he conceded Michael Essien, absent all season with a knee injury, is still a month away from full fitness and expects the Ghana international to miss the African Cup of Nations.

“We’re looking at mid-January, that’s the best we can think about. There was a setback at the beginning of December if I’m not wrong which took him back 10 days and that’s extended into January, so I don’t think he will go to the African Cup of Nations,” the manager said.

Wigan have been lifted by the victory at West Bromwich Albion that moved them out of the bottom three and revived hopes they can escape relegation.

Like Villas-Boas, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has also been forced to deny reports his main striker could quit the club in January.

Hugo Rodallega is also out of contract next summer but Martinez said: “Hugo Rodallega is a professional and has been a very important member of this football club. He still is.

“He has had a stop-start season and we were fortunate his injury at Everton was not as bad as we feared.

“Now it is a matter of getting back to his best. There is no hidden agenda or anything complicated.”

INIESTA: “WE PLAYED WITH THE SAME RESPECT IN THE FIELD OF L’HOSPITALET IN SAN SIRO”

A Iniesta not only asked about the Al Sadd, rival on Thursday, but the manchego also had to answer some questions about the classic Saturday. ”It’s nice that people are euphoric, happy with us and the party of Bernabéu. From the distance we noticed the euphoria of the people,” he said. Although nuanced: “There is much league yet. Not decide anything in December.” 

“I was convinced that the team could do well against Real Madrid. When you win a game like this gives you a bonus for all that lies ahead. I do not know how it will affect the defeat to Madrid,” he added. 

And said: “I do not think it costs us more to us when facing the away games. Where do we go ready to play the games. If we have not achieved positive results in areas more ‘modest’ is for other reasons. We played with the same respect in the field of Hospitalet in San Siro. ” 

In relation to adaptation to the Asian country and their schedules, Iniesta said: “We are able. It is not easy to adapt to something new, a new schedule. Everything is different toSpain, to which live there. These days we are trying to sleep well adapted to the schedule here. compete well. There are very excited that everything goes well. ” 

On his way when, after good football recital he gave at the Bernabeu, Iniesta said he is “either way, at a time is good as the equipment. Every little bit helps. When the team works well, the players as well. It is a logical relationship. Eager to make a good world, ending the year with a title. That’s what’s important. ” 

On Al Sadd, said that the Blaugrana have seen several videos on the Asian champions and highlighted three players: Niang, Belhadj and Keita. 

Finally, Iniesta expressed his desire to reach the final of ‘Mundialito’: “Beyond the motivation of getting back in the Club World Cup, a couple of years I had many problems with injuries and could not play the final . Now, hopefully come and win the title to finish the year very happy. ”

PIQUE SHAKIRA REUNITED IN TOKYO BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK

While most of the players traveled to Japan accompanied by their families, Gerard Pique(The football shirt €13.5) had to wait another day to land on land Nippon parents, Joan and Montserrat, and its very famous girlfriend, Shakira. The central Catalan had traveled with her grandmother, while his grandfather Amador Bernabeu, will fly to Japan on Friday, after meeting the next opponent for Barca in the Champions League after the draw for the UEFA in Nyon. 

The couple did not miss a minute of their reunion, which coincided with the day off to Pep Guardiola left his men to acclimate to Japanese soil. Gerard and ‘Shak’ spent the afternoon in Tokyo. Used not only to browse a few shops but also for sightseeing. Following Rijkaard’s license, the player skipped the team hotel and players spent the night in Tokyo with his partner. 

After the rest day, the central Catalan returned to the hotel where the staff is housed, as did the Colombian, who changed Tokyo Yokohama. For their part, most families, among which are the player’s parents, staying at the exclusive Hotel Tokyo Mandarin. 

Shakira has had other commitments before traveling to Japan as the Top 40 Gala last Friday, the 9th, where he was one of the premiere players and absolute change of hairstyle, barber work of his head, Jordi Ripoll.

Arsenal’s captain homes in on Shearer’s record

Former England captain Alan Shearer backs Arsenal‘s frontman Robin van Persie to break his record of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year.

“Robin van Persie will take one of my records away from me before the end of the month. I’m pretty sure of that and I’ll be the first to congratulate him,”Said Shearer in an exclusive report in The Sun.

The Dutch international has been in sensational form this season having scored 19 goals so far, almost single-handedly turning around Arsenal’s fortune after enduring their worst start in nearly half a century.

“He will beat my total of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year — a record, by the way, I was unaware of until it was mentioned to me on Match of the Day at the weekend,” said Shearer who set in 1995 when he was with Blackburn.

Van Persie has 33 goals and has four games left this year to get the record with trips to Manchester City and Aston Villa and home clashes with Wolves and QPR.

Shearer lauded van Persie for leading from the front.

“He has scored 33 goals in 32 Premier League games — and not just as his team’s main striker but as Arsenal captain,” he noted.

“He has shouldered both of those responsibilities and replied to his critics by doing the hardest job in football, putting the ball in the net on a regular basis,” said Shearer.

He added: “He is someone who leads by example with the excellence of his performances. Team-mates will always be inspired by that kind of skipper.

“We have always known he was a top player.

“There have been nagging doubts in the past about his fitness and his ability to play a long spell of games without interruption.

“He has put that right over the last year and proved beyond doubt he is up there with the world’s best.”

That includes players like Andy Cole, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

Arsenal legend Henry stands second behind Shearer with 34 goals he scored in 2004 with van Persie likely to eclipse that mark against Manchester City this weekend.

Shearer was gushing in praise for the versatility of the Gunner.

“Van Persie can score goals any way you like. He puts away headers, tap-ins and rockets. The volley which won the game against Everton last Saturday was, I suppose, a definitive strike by the in-form Arsenal man,” he said.

He felt Arsenal should hold on to their prized asset instead of selling him, although van Persie has not committed his future at Emirates having just 18 months on his contract.

“They would have to accept a lot less money if he were heading for his final year without a new deal in place,” he said.

But if van Persie were to leave the club in mid-contract, Shearer equated his value to a similar price range to that of £50 million Fernando Torres and £35 million Andy Carroll.

“To Arsenal, he is simply invaluable because his goals have been so productive in terms of games won. For them to even consider selling Van Persie would be unthinkable and I am sure Arsenal will be doing all they can to get him to sign an extended contract,” he added.

Fernando Torres ‘going nowhere’ as Chelsea look for new striker

t is understood the club are looking to sell the striker for £20million during next month’s transfer window because he has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old has scored just five goals in 35 appearances for Chelsea since joining for a British-record £50m from Liverpool in January.

Torres has lost his place in the first team to Didier Drogba, with his last start in the League coming in the 5-3 defeat at home against Arsenal on October 29.

However, Chelsea are determined to keep faith with Torres and a club spokesman said today: “The story is total nonsense. Fernando is in the long-term plans at Chelsea.”

Manager Andre Villas-Boas is expected to give Torres his full backing when he holds a press conference tomorrow to preview the club’s next match, at Wigan.

Torres will be needed in the new year,with Drogba and Salomon Kalou set to be missing for up to six weeks while they play for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations. The club will also no longer have Nicolas Anelka as an option because he is joining Shanghai Shenhua.

That will mean Chelsea are left with just Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku to choose from up front, although the club are considering signing another forward in the transfer window.

They have been linked with Santos star Neymar and are also monitoring Universidad de Chile forward Eduardo Vargas.

Chelsea to Accept £20m for Flop Striker

Torres decided to leave Liverpool after three-and-a-half-years at Anfield but has struggled to recreate the superb form that saw him score 81 goals in just 142 appearances.

The 27-year-old has scored just three league goals for Chelsea and has struggled to force his way into the first team this season with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka, Romelu Lukaku and Didier Drogba all pushing for a starting berth.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea were originally prepared to let the striker leave on a loan deal to rebuild his confidence but now the club are prepared to sell for as little as £20million.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas had hoped that fellow Spaniard Juan Mata would bring the best out of Torres, but so far the former Atletico Madrid striker has showed no signs of rediscovering his best form.

The Portuguese manager wants to rebuild the Chelsea squad and is keen to make a number of transfers in the January window, with Anelka already agreeing to leave in the New Year.

Brazilian defender Alex is almost certain to follow Anelka out of the door at Stamford Bridge and Torres could also be another name that ends up being sold.

There is certain to be plenty of interest in the Spain international despite his lack of for, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Malaga already declaring their interest.

Arsenal ready to spend on transfers

Arsene Wenger has indicated Arsenal have money to spend in the January transfer window if the need for signings should arise.

Wenger has previously been criticised for a reluctance to spend big in the transfer market, opting to sign younger players, in contrast to English Premier League rivals such as Manchester City and Chelsea.

The 62-year-old has always maintained that there is money to spend at the Emirates, and – with forwards Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho set to depart for the African Cup of Nations – has hinted he may invest when the window opens on January 1.

Speaking on the club’s official website, Wenger said: “We lose players like Chamakh and Gervinho to the African Cup of Nations, so hopefully touch wood we do not get any injuries to our strikers.

“But if an opportunity turns up in that department then we will buy.

“The situation, I must say, is a bit special. Economically the whole environment has changed and people suffer more. The clubs will suffer more financially and it’s much more difficult.

“Maybe we will have some opportunities because we are in a good financial situation.”

The Frenchman may also look to defensive reinforcements, with Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs all sidelined with injury.