Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea bid for David Villa and Fabio Coentrao
ShareChelsea have launched a ?60million double raid on Benfica and Barcelona, but look set to be disappointed in their pursuit of David Villa and Fabio Coentrao.[LNB]The Blues are splashing the cash again this summer as they continue to reshape an ageing squad and give backing to new manager Andre Villas-Boas.[LNB]Barcelona's Villa has formed a formidable partnership at international level with current Chelsea forward Fernando Torres, something which tempted Roman Abramovich to sanction a ?27m bid for Spain's all-time leading scorer. [LNB] In the hunt: Chelsea are keen to sign Benfica's Fabio Coentrao and Barcelona's David Villa[LNB]The offer, though, according to El Mundo Deportivo, was dismissed out of hand on the insistence that only a bid of ?180m - Villa's buyout clause - would be entertained. [LNB]Chelsea appeared to be encouraged by Barcelona's financial position as the Catalan giants themselves continue an expensive recruitment drive. [LNB]However club director Andoni Zubizarreta is adamant that despite the difficulty in tying up the transfers of Cesc Fabregas and Alexi Sanchez, Barca have never considered off-loading Villa, a ?40m signing last summer who went on to score 23 goals and profess to wanting to see out his career at the Camp Nou.[LNB] Money worries: Barcelona are failing to meet Arsenal's valuation for Cesc Fabregas[LNB]Chelsea's other target, the in-demand Coentrao, had looked certain to swap Benfica for Real Madrid for around ?20m. However the clubs are at loggerheads over the intracies of the deal, with Madrid's desire to throw in Ezequiel Garay, Fernando Gago, Royston Drenthe and Pablo Sarabia, pushing the door ever so slightly ajar for Chelsea. [LNB]The Stamford Bridge side - who have just recruited a Portuguese manager - are willing to offer the ?27m to activate Coentrao's buyout. [LNB]The club are also continuing to plug away at mega deals for Tottenham's Luka Modric and Porto powerhouse striker Radamel Falcao.[LNB] Real deal: Ashley Cole is keen on a spell in Spain during his career[LNB]The merry-go-round continues with Spanish newspaper AS reporting that should Chelsea hijack the players switch, Real will turn to current Blues left-back Ashley Cole. [LNB]Cole, 30, still has more than two years to run on his ?120,000-a-week deal but sources close to the player have said he sees a stint at Real or rivals Barcelona as the perfect end to a stellar career.[LNB] Biggest test for Villas-Boas will be winning over Chelsea dressing room, claims Wilkins Luka-rative deal! Spurs want to make Modric highest paid player in their historyCole targets Spanish swansong as Chelsea star eyes move to Barcelona or MadridAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB]
