Carvalho eyes exit as Inter give up chase

RICARDO CARVALHO is ready to leave Chelsea this summer but will only consider a move to another top European club.

However the defender won’t be reunited with Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan after the Italian giants revealed they have given up on signing Carvalho and team-mate Deco for the time being.

The duo had been linked with a move to the San Siro with reports suggesting Inter had sent a representative to London to talk with Chelsea about a possible deal for the two Portuguese players, but the Italians’ transfer consultant Lele Oriali insisted that claim was untrue.

He said: “Inter don’t need emissaries, the president didn’t send anyone and neither did I.

“Having had the fortune of being able to speak directly with Chelsea, we know that they are ready to negotiate over these two players, but the asking price is too high.

“The deal is not as simple as it might seem. It’s unrealistic for us in the current conditions. At the moment the deal is closed, and we don’t know if it will open up again later on.”

Oriali’s remarks last night will come as a blow Carvalho, who has expressed his intention to leave Stamford Bridge. and hinted he wishes to join Inter.

“I would like to open a new page in my career,” said Carvalho.

“It’s right that we go our separate ways. I am ready to do it. I have spoken to the Chelsea executives and they know what I want. We shall see what happens. My agent Jorge Mendes knows what I want.”

He added: “If I leave Chelsea, I plan to play in another top club, otherwise I will remain in London and respect my contract,” said Carvalho.

“It’s not a case of being arrogant, in recent years I’ve played at a certain level and I can continue to play at that level still.

“Everyone has spoken well about Inter. My friend Tiago who plays at Juventus has said that at Inter you have great champions and that the Serie A is a good tournament.

“Tiago and I spent our holidays together and we spoke a lot about it.

“But Inter must first find the agreement with Chelsea.”

Meanwhile John Obi Mikel is ready to commit his long-term future to Chelsea. The Nigerian midfielder is on the brink of signing a new five-year contract, according to his agent.

The 22-year-old, having established himself as a first-team regular last season, has only one year remaining on his current deal. The new contract is believed to increase his weekly salary to around £70,000 (€81,000) a week.

“He will sign the deal,” said his agent John Shittu. “It is a very good deal for him and would put him on a par with some of the top earners in the club.”

New coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed a “creative player” is high on his wishlist of potential squad reinforcements.

“I think Chelsea is a strong team, a great team, a physical team that plays very well and can be improved with some creative players,” said Ancelotti. “We are looking for these players.’’