Chelsea Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Rafael Benitez

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42440

Blues close in on Robinho

24 Jul 2008 - 16:19:48

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Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has reiterated his club's desire to make Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Robinho their final summer purchase.

The 24-year-old has been the subject of frenzied speculation for several weeks, but Kenyon admits that a deal is far from being completed.

He told reporters: "The speculation surrounding Chelsea in any transfer window is enormous.

"We have confirmed we are interested in Robinho and have had some conversations with his club. That is ongoing and, as the coach has said, he is a player we have identified as a talent.

"If we could get him it would add to what we have got, but if it doesn't happen the objectives of Chelsea are not going to change."

New Blues head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is clearly a fan of his compatriot, adding: "Robinho is a great player, he plays for one of the best teams in the world and also Brazil.

"But at the moment it is not more than speculation. It is the time of the year for speculation, it is the time for agents to put one player here and then there."

Meanwhile, Scolari has distanced himself from any comparisons with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who is now in charge of Internazionale.

"My way with Chelsea is the same way I have used with my previous clubs and national teams - to win," Scolari commented. "It is always the same, this is my way. I only follow this way.

"I am Luiz Felipe Scolari, I am not Jose Mourinho and I follow my way, not the other way.

"I do not know if Mourinho said what he could achieve, but I tell my players we need to win, this is all I tell them."