Chelsea launch £57m Ribery bid as Bayern fear winger's value may drop

28 August 2009 12:16
Cashing in: Will Bayern Munich sell Franck Ribery? Chelsea have made a last-ditch attempt to sign Franck Ribery by reportedly making a £57million bid for the Bayern Munich star. Chelsea, along with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have seen their approaches rebuffed all summer, with the Bundesliga giants quoting varying price-tags in excess of the world record £80million fee which took Cristiano Ronald to the Bernabeu. But Bayern are finally considering cashing in after all but completing a deal to sign direct replacement Arjen Robben. Holland midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is also in talks to follow his Real Madrid team-mate to the Allianz Arena. Bayern boss Louis van Gaal's relationship with Ribery has grown strained. Despite the France international claiming he had never asked to leave Bayern, there are concerns that he could lack focus this season and be worth much less come next summer, when he will have a year left to run on his contract. It is thought the 26-year-old would prefer a move to Madrid, but the Spanish giants are more concerned with trying to off-load players before next week's transfer deadline. Chelsea captain John Terry recently rejected Manchester City because he had been assured owner Roman Abramovich still had ambition to bring the best players to Stamford Bridge. London calling: Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery gestures during the German Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen So far, the Blues' only marquee signing has been the £18m capture ofYuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow, but a long-running pursuit of Riberycould finally pay off following the latest bid, according to France Football magazine. Robben could make his debut in tomorrow's Bundesliga clash with Wolfsburg after completing a transfer from Real Madrid to the record German champions today. The Dutch winger was given the number 10 shirt last worn at Bayernby his compatriot Roy Makaay after he passed a medical and signed afour-year contract in Munich. Both clubs have agreed on an undisclosed fee for the 25-year-old.

Source: Daily_Mail