BlueLion.

Right, seems like we've got enough support. I'll have a word with Jim about it.

Welcome to Stamford Bridge. I hope he can be a hit.

Spot on. Ridiculous.

You could be correct there, CJ. Maybe the club want everything finalised before issuing a statement; like the Turnbull deal?

LOL at Citeh. Bunch of crooks.

He's signed. See MH Stand forum for details.

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Ross Turnbull on a free transfer. The 24-year-old joins us from Middlesbrough, and has signed a four-year contract. Turnbull was available on a free after his contract expired at the Riverside Stadium, opting to head south to Stamford Bridge rather than sign a new deal in the north east following Boro's relegation. He joins He joins Petr Cech and Hilario in the Chelsea first team squad, working under the guidance of goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon. Hilario, 33, has also signed a new two-year deal with the club today that will run until 2011. An England youth international, Ross was born in Bishop Auckland and came through the ranks at Middlesbrough, making his league debut in May 2006 in a 1-1 draw against Bolton. Prior to that there had been temporary spells with Darlington, Barnsley, Bradford and Crewe, sides that would have noticed his impressive FA Youth Cup form as Boro reached the Final in 2002/03, beaten by Manchester United. Another loan spell at Cardiff City was cut short due to injuries in late 2007 as the youngster stepped in for Mark Schwarzer, playing in Boro's 2-1 win over Arsenal. At the end of that campaign, the Australian announced he was leaving for Fulham, meaning Turnbull and Brad Jones would fight it out for the number one spot for the 2008/09 campaign. Initially it was Jones given the nod by Gareth Southgate, but when he injured himself in the warm-up before the second league game of the season, Turnbull stepped in, keeping his place until the turn of the year. His last Middlesbrough appearance came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge back at the end of January when he was beaten by two Salomon Kalou goals. The 6'4 stopper had earlier been in the line-up when we ran out 5-0 winners at the Riverside in October. In total, Ross made 29 appearances for Middlesbrough, in addition to 67 for his various loan clubs.

If we get a bid of anything higher than £15 million we should seriously consider selling him.

I know, Jamie Redknapp does the same. Plebs.

That's a fair point. However he enjoyed something of a revelation towards the end of last season; his form was excellent and he got back into the OL side. He'd been a substitute for much of the early season, but his form helped OL make a late push for a Champions League spot - which was lucky, since other players were performing woefully. He's certainly a player I wouldn't mind at the club, as long as people pronounce his surname correctly Thats what fucks me off about Benzema, because his surname isn't said Ben-zee-muh, its Ben-ze-marr. It pisses me off watching Setanta coverage of Ligue Un and hearing them say Kallstrom; its Challstrom. Haha, I'm so sad But thats how the stadium announcer at the Stade Gerland says their names, and he isn't likely to be wrong.

How do you think I feel? Oh well. We've got di Santo

They can have Bosingwa if they send Lahm the opposite way as far as I'm concerned.

They wanted them for free? Inter can collectively suck my bollocks, then maybe rub some cream into them, before sucking them so more.

Thats fantastic mate, cheers Anyone else?

17.43 Real Madrid have completed the signing of Lyon striker Karim Benzema for an initial £30million fee. The France international had also been a target for Manchester United and the deal could eventually rise to £35million. Transfert - 01/07/09 18:15 Transfert de Karim Benzema au Real Madrid L’Olympique Lyonnais informe d’un accord avec le Real Madrid sur les modalités d’un transfert de son attaquant international Karim BENZEMA pour un montant net minimum de 35 M€ auxquels pourront s’ajouter différents bonus liés aux performances sportives, permettant d’atteindre un montant maximum de transfert de 41 M€ net. Il y a quelques jours, Karim BENZEMA a informé le Président Jean Michel AULAS de son souhait de rejoindre plus rapidement qu’il ne l’avait envisagé initialement le club madrilène qui a toujours eu sa préférence après l’O.L. Le joueur a souhaité saisir ainsi l’opportunité que lui offrait le Real Madrid d’être l’un des éléments majeurs de sa nouvelle politique ambitieuse autour de certains des plus grands joueurs mondiaux. L’Olympique Lyonnais a accepté la décision de Karim BENZEMA et il a négocié les conditions d’un transfert qui donnent satisfaction aux différentes parties. Le club souhaite à Karim la plus grande réussite avec le Real Madrid qui bénéficie pour développer son ambitieux projet sportif de dispositions législatives (notamment en matière de sponsoring, jeux et paris en ligne avec Bwin) mais aussi fiscales et immobilières (fiscalité des sportifs étrangers et valorisation foncière privée pour le stade) incomparables avec la situation en vigueur actuellement en France pour le sport professionnel. Done deal. Topic closed.

FFS calm down people. the transfer window's not been open even a day yet !

I hope you're right.

Well, including me, that's two we've got.

Russia star Yuri Zhirkov has dismissed speculation that he will sign for Chelsea this summer. The CSKA Moscow man had been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge but the 25-year-old insists he is yet to receive an offer from the Blues."I honestly know as much about it as everyone else," he told Sport Express. "I read the papers, listen to the radio and I am genuinely surprised, given that no actual offer from Chelsea exists." New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is expected to transform the squad over the summer with Zhirkov one of the names believed to be on the Italian's shortlist. And Zhirkov says he would welcome the chance to play in the Premier League should the opportunity arise. "Clearly we are talking about one of the best clubs in the world, who regularly compete at the highest level," he added. "It is very possible that I would say yes. "But before that I would have to weigh up the pros and cons. "To sit on the bench and only get on the pitch from time to time doesn't interest me, not even at Chelsea. "Moreover, I have nothing to lose (by staying in Moscow), given that CSKA now have a very interesting team who will begin competing in the Champions League in the autumn." http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/20862...elsea_link.aspx

I don't see why the language barrier is proving such a big obstacle; Ray Wilkins speaks fluent Italian.

Wow, what a reception.

I like the new presentation jackets; they're rather nice

I was trying to do the same Bless him

Official stats claim he scored 10 last season; whilst it was actually 11. I refer to out 5-0 win against Middlesbrough, where his second goal was deflected in off of Wheater. The 'Dubious Goals Panel' ruled it an own goal but Chelsea FC's statistician and historian; Paul Dutton and Rick Glanvill respectively, reviewed the game and demonstrated from one camera angle how Kalou's shot was on target prior to the deflection, and therefore count the goal to his name. Either way, he got double figures

He'd be great at Arsenal, I think. Their style of football; one-, two-touch passing football would benefit him, as he likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender. He's physically imposing and very fast, but they are both attributes we have in the likes of DD11, Anelka and Kalou.