Ancelotti in last-ditch bid to convince Ribery his future is at Chelsea

02 July 2009 00:11
Chelsea will make one final attempt to persuade Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery that his future is at Stamford Bridge. Bayern continue to maintain that Ribery, who is valued at more than £45m, will remain in Germany but new Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti is refusing to concede defeat. Despite competition from Manchester United, Manchester City and big-spending Real Madrid, Ancelotti will test Bayern Munich's resolve with an improved offer for the midfielder. Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness yesterday revealed that he had told Madrid president Florentino Perez over the phone that it would take 'something crazy' for them to consider selling Ribery. Hoeness said: 'I asked his right-hand man Pedro Lopez Jimenez, since Florentino does not speak English all that well, whether he knows the game Monopoly. 'I told him that Bayern had bought Mayfair on Monopoly two years ago and you don't give Mayfair away that easily. We would only consider it if somebody did something crazy.' Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull and Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge will also join Chelsea in the coming days, but Ancelotti is also working on deals for some of the existing squad. Florent Malouda is to sign a new contract next week and injured midfielder Joe Cole is also close to signing an extension to his existing deal. Defender Michael Mancienne met chief executive Peter Kenyon yesterday for talks over an improved deal.

Source: Daily_Mail