Blues rule out Ferdinand swoop

Chelsea have distanced themselves from newspaper reports that a possible transfer swoop for Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand is in the offing.

Ferdinand had a chance meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in a London restaurant at the weekend but club officials insist this was not pre-arranged.

“We have made it absolutely clear to Manchester United that we have no interest in signing Rio Ferdinand and there is absolutely no significance in Peter Kenyon seeing Rio in a busy London restaurant,” Chelsea said.

A statement from the Blues read: “This was a meeting purely by chance in a public place. Both the player and Manchester United are fully aware of the circumstances of the meeting and Chelsea’s position on it.

“Any suggestion that there is an explanation other than a chance meeting will be met with the strongest legal action.”

Kenyon was dining with Ferdinand’s agent Pini Zahavi, and the England international is understood to have needed to retrieve paperwork from his representative.

Chelsea insist Kenyon’s dinner with Zahavi was a long-standing appointment, and Ferdinand’s impromptu appearance was purely coincidental.

With the possibility the chance encounter was seen by other diners, Chelsea have contacted Old Trafford officials to make clear how the situation arose.

Chelsea are currently at the centre of a tapping-up row with the Premier League after an alleged illegal approach for Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole.

Cole, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and the club were charged last month over reports they met at the Royal Park Hotel at Lancaster Gate in January.

But both Ferdinand and Zahavi have already revealed that Ferdinand is keen to pledge his future to United past the two years left on his current contract.

“I want a new contract. I’m happy at United and I see my future here,” Ferdinand told The Sun. “I hope talks will be positive but my agent is dealing with that and I’m waiting to see the results.”

Zahavi added: “Things are progressing well and hopefully we will soon reach a conclusion.”

Chelsea, who last night reached the semi-finals of the Champions League against Bayern Munich in Germany, have been at the centre of controversy in recent months.

Aside from the Cole saga, Mourinho has also received a two-match touchline ban from UEFA for remarks made about an alleged conversation between referee Anders Frisk and Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard when the teams clashed at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho has not been attending Champions League press conferences and has sent his assistants, such as Baltemar Brito, to face the media.

On Monday fitness coach Rui Faria spoke to journalists ahead of the Bayern clash. It had been suggested Faria was relaying messages from Mourinho during the first leg, although this accusation has not been proven.

Despite the controversy, Kenyon insists the club have behaved properly off the pitch this season.

“I think we conduct ourselves in the right manner, we certainly don’t view ourselves as above the law,” Kenyon said earlier this season.

“There’s so much good stuff going on at Chelsea, on and off the field, and it’s sad to talk about this.

“The quicker we get on with the real issues and move forward the better we all are.”