Chelsea deny Rio interest

Chelsea today maintained they have no interest in a possible transfer swoop for Rio Ferdinand despite further reports of a meeting with chief executive Peter Kenyon.

The 26-year-old Manchester United centre-back met with Kenyon in a London restaurant last weekend and Blues officials insist the encounter was accidental.

Reports today have suggested the pair spent more time together on the same evening.

Blues officials, however, have again distanced themselves from a possible move for the former Leeds defender.

A statement from Chelsea read: “As far as Chelsea is concerned our position is completely unchanged.

"We have made it absolutely clear to Manchester United, on more than one occasion now, that we have no interest in signing Rio Ferdinand and, regardless of where this encounter took place, there is absolutely no significance in Peter Kenyon seeing Rio.

“As already stated, their meeting was purely by chance in a very public place.”