EPL News May 29th

[dmmd98]

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to throw Manchester United into turmoil and demand a move out of Old Trafford. The 24-year-old forward is a £50m target for Real Madrid. (Full story: The Sun)

Although Ronaldo will go on holiday before making a decision on his United future.
(Full story: Daily Telegraph)

However the prospect of Ronaldo joining Real Madrid may have receded with the Spanish side opting for the £40m signature of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery. (Full story: Independent)

In fact, Real Madrid will reject Ronaldo this summer as club president elect Florentino Perez has targeted Milan forward Kaka and Ribery instead. (Full story: Daily Express)

Let the madness continue. Ronaldo didn’t exact put this stories to bed when he simply said I don’t know when asked of his future plans. I’d be annoyed however being asked that question all the time and so soon after a crushing defeat to Barcelona.

Ribery was Chelsea boss-in-waiting Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice summer signing but the Blues have lost out to Real Madrid. Ancelotti may look to CSKA Moscow’s Russian left-back Yuri Zhirkov. (The Times)

Chelsea are an interesting club. First issue is many of they key players are advancing in age. The second is Chelsea play with strength and character but with not much style. Can Zhirkov alone change this and help transform Chelsea to more of a free flowing team Roman Abramovich craves for? Ask Deco how those plans turned out. If Zhirkov is part of a bigger picture with Chelsea bringing in the right players and coaches it would increase his chance of success.

Chelsea have been told they will need to put up £20m for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge when he is named Chelsea boss next week. (Daily Telegraph)

Despite his injuries I’m a big fan of Pirlo but I just don’t see what he could give you that Michael Essien can’t.

If Manchester United do not complete the permanent signing of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez this summer they will turn their attentions to Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Wigan’s Antonio Valencia. (Daily Express)

Benzema is happy at Lyon. I don’t get why papers keep linking Benzema to Manchester United or Real Madrid. Since Benzema has no plans to go, Lyon would have no plans to sell him unless someone offers 40 million plus.

Manchester City and Liverpool are among five clubs who are willing to meet the £25m price tag for Tevez. (The Times)

Now that Liverpool have been smart enough to give Fernando Torres his annual raise, Liverpool’s next order of business should be to sign Carlos Tevez.

Sir Alex Ferguson may ditch Nani and Ji-Sung Park as the Manchester United boss reshapes his squad while Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak will also leave this summer. (Daily Mirror)

Park plays one bad game against Barcelona and now his bags are about to be packed?

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry is holding out for a summer move to Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is considering a £12m bid for the 28-year-old. (Daily Star)

Never quite understood Liverpool’s interest in Barry but a midfield partnership with Cesc Fàbregas at Arsenal however could blossom.
Barry could be everything Fabregas has been looking for since Mathieu Flamini left for A.C Milan.

The Magpies have warned the clubs chasing defender Sebastien Bassong that they will not take anything less than £15m for him.
(Full story: The Sun)

Newcastle has to find a way to pay down their massive wage bill next season somehow.

Former England and Mexico boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is favourite to become the new Portsmouth manager. (The Times)

Mexico mistake notwithstanding if Portsmouth could convince Sven to take over it would be quite a coup.

[rjordan1979]

Chelsea have been told they will need to put up £20m for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge when he is named Chelsea boss next week. (Daily Telegraph)

Despite his injuries I’m a big fan of Pirlo but I just don’t see what he could give you that Michael Essien can’t.

I would think it would be to play them alongside each other, like Alonso and Mascherano for Liverpool. Essien's a great tackler and he breaks up plays, while Pirlo can deliver the killer final ball that Essien can't. He can spray it to all parts of the park, which would open up the field.