Pearce blasts Blues link
28 Dec 2006 - 11:13:21
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has dismissed morning press reports suggesting that Chelsea are closing in on a multi-million pound deal for England defender Micah Richards.
The 18-year-old is much in demand after rising through the ranks with the Citizens to gain full international honours, with Chelsea known to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements.
However, a defiant Pearce told the club's official website: "We've had no contact from them.
"The only contact we've had with Chelsea is us ringing them about their players coming here, not them ringing us for ours.
"We are not in a situation at the moment that we maybe were two years ago with Shaun Wright-Phillips, that we had to sell.
"Things have changed at this football club. Players will only leave this club if we feel it's for the benefit of the club, full stop.
"Micah is very happy here, wants to stay at the football club and we are on a very sound financial footing."
Meanwhile, Pearce also dismissed rumours that contract talks had broken down with centre-half Sylvain Distin, who could leave on a free transfer next summer.
He added: "We have been talking to Sylvain for 18 months now and I believe he will end up signing a new contract, whether that is next week, next month or in the summer."
