Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Yaya Toure’s form could be suffering as he comes to terms with his brother’s death.

Arsenal’s club-record signing of Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil sent a clear message the Gunners mean business again, according to forward Theo Walcott.

Jose Mourinho has dropped some early hints about the shape of his Stamford Bridge squad for next season as he prepares to be unveiled as Chelsea boss for the second time later today.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told new signing Daniel Sturridge his £12m move to Anfield represents his last chance to succeed at a big club.

Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand believes the Blues have not received the credit they deserve for their on-field performances due to the off-field controversies that have engulfed them.

Birmingham are set to sign Chelsea left-back Ben Gordon on a six-month loan deal, Press Association Sport understands.

Frank Lampard, normally the kind of serious and professionally-focused character more concerned with leading by example than with bawling out instructions to his team-mates, is exercising his vocal chords this week as he prepares to step into John Terry’s shoes and captain Chelsea in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Chelsea have guaranteed the biggest-ever TV cash pay-out from the Champions League after beating Barcelona to make the final.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has come under attack from the head of the League Managers’ Association for his record of sacking managers and demand for instant success.

Petr Cech expects to sign a new extended contract with Chelsea soon – but refuses to rule out the prospect of leaving the club one day.

Nicolas Anelka will leave Chelsea for Shanghai Shenhua next month on a two-year contract, according to the Chinese Super League club.

CHELSEA have been closely monitoring the progress of Ireland’s James McCarthy this season and are believed to be readying a bid in the summer.

YOU can always rely on Liverpool supporters to find the right words and the handful of hastily made banners unfurled among the visiting fans at the Shed End captured the mood perfectly.

Liverpool have confirmed that Fernando Torres has been given permission to speak to Chelsea after a fee was agreed for a possible transfer.

BOLTON manager Owen Coyle will not be fooled into thinking tonight’s trip to Chelsea will be anything other than difficult.

BLACKBURN manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed that a third member of his squad has come down with swine flu ahead of tonight’s fourth round Carling Cup tie against Peterborough.

Chelsea’s John Terry believes having Carlo Ancelotti as coach will help the Stamford Bridge club finally win the Champions League this season.

Liverpool and Chelsea will meet in the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League.

NEW Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink is refusing to look beyond the current season after agreeing to combine his job as Russia coach in a short-term dual role.

Champions Manchester United will begin their Premier League title defence at home to Newcastle on August 16.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to pledge his future to the club by signing a new two-year contract extension in the summer.

CHELSEA look set to go into tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League title showdown against Manchester United without grieving midfielder Frank Lampard, whose mother passed away yesterday.

GORDON STRACHAN has made pride the main aim for his Celtic players in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp tonight.

Chelsea captain John Terry has signed a new five-year contract with the Barclays Premier League club.

JOHN TERRY has reportedly suffered a broken toe during Chelsea’s 1-0 win against the Suwon Bluewings in California.

John Terry has reportedly suffered a broken toe during Chelsea’s 1-0 win against the Suwon Bluewings in California.

Chelsea will wait for a full medical assessment on Michael Ballack’s ankle operation before deciding whether to include him in their squad for a tour of America next week.

Frank Lampard’s agent has revealed the Chelsea midfielder has not had the chance to reject a new contract from the Stamford Bridge club and wants to stay there for the rest of his career.

FRANK LAMPARD insists Chelsea have learned to live with playing second fiddle to Manchester United as they look to overhaul the leaders in the Premiership title run-in.

AC Milan general director Ariedo Braida has admitted the Italian club could be ready to make a cut-price summer move for Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has come to the defence of referees.

Andriy Shevchenko believes he has joined Chelsea “at the perfect time” and claims winning the Champions League is now “a realistic target” for the Blues.

CHELSEA have completed the signing of Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou on a three-year deal.

Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has agreed a four-year deal with Chelsea, according to media reports in Germany.

PREMIERSHIP champions Chelsea are back in the dock after the FA yesterday charged the Blues with failing to control their players.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has targeted April 9 as the day the title will be won.

Tottenham will test Chelsea’s resolve to hang on to their fringe players by making a £6m (€8.8m) move for England left-back Wayne Bridge.

WAYNE ROONEY has warned the rest of the Premiership that he plans to improve on this season’s impressive goal haul next term.

Peter Kenyon believes hostile takeover bids for Manchester United, like that by Malcolm Glazer, are inevitable because they are a public limited company.

Sir Alex Ferguson tonight issued a blunt message to Rio Ferdinand when he told the under-fire defender: ‘Sign your contract’.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has urged Rio Ferdinand to commit his future to the Old Trafford club.

Despite further newspaper reports regarding Rio Ferdinand and Peter Kenyon today, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed the club are close to agreeing a new contract with the England defender.

Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has called on the club to buy some experienced players in the summer to ensure they do not fall further behind rivals Chelsea.