Herny To Chelsea ? Chelsea senior players tell Scolari not to play kids in Cup

Chelsea will not be fielding their academy players in tomorrow's Carling Cup tie with Burnley.

The Independent says Luiz Felipe Scolari will not pick an experimental team of Chelsea academy players to face Burnley because he has been told by his senior players that they want to play in and win the competition. Unlike Arsenal and Manchester United, Scolari knows that many of his biggest names want the chance of winning the Carling Cup for a third time in five years.

Chelsea's senior players feel that their three recent appearances in Carling Cup finals (2005, 2007 and 2008) have been among the most memorable games since Roman Abramovich's arrival. As a result they are unwilling to stand aside.



Agent demands £170,000-a-week for Man Utd ace Ronaldo

Jorge Mendes hopes to secure a bumper pay-rise for his client, Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Mirror says Mendes wants to talk about a deal that would see Ronaldo get around £170,000 a week just a couple of months after turning down a move to Real Madrid.

However, United are reluctant to give Ronaldo a new deal so soon, with chief executive David Gill believing their star is already firmly under contract.

Ronaldo signed a five-year deal in April 2007 and is on around £120,000 a week. But an improved contract would lead to the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney demanding hikes, too.

Mendes wants to know United's thinking and planning after the two camps declared an uneasy peace after the summer.

United are aware the threat of Real Madrid remains despite the Spanish club's statements to the contrary.



Henry To Chelsea

According to reports which may or may not be reliable, Chelsea could be about to launch a January swoop for Barcelona forward Thierry Henry.

Reports in both English and Spanish tabloids have suggested that Luiz Felipe Scolari is preparing to unleash an £8 million bid to lure iconic Frenchman Thierry Henry back to London.

The 31-year-old striker is currently in his second season at Barcelona, but has not scaled the heights that saw him crowned a bona-fide legend at Highbury and the Emirates with Arsenal.

Scolari is eager to bolster Chelsea's attacking options, with strikers painfully thin on the ground outside of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Chelsea's planned raid for Robinho was usurped by newly-monied Manchester City over the summer, leaving Scolari with limited options at the business end of the field.

He has been making noises about adding to his panel during the January sales, even though the economic downturn has left the once richest club in the world with unprecedented financial constraints.

According to The People newspaper, the Blues may have as little as £5 million with which to bid over the winter, while Henry is likey to command a fee at least twice that amount, with his wages set to be in the region of £120,000 a week.

The player was also linked with Manchester City, but is known to have a strong affection for London return.

He has been quoted by the press as saying: "Though I work in Barcelona my heart is in London." However, he has also said, repeatedly, that he is happy at Barca, that Arsenal are in his heart and that he could not envisage playing for any other Premier League club after his time as a Gunner.

But then as we all know, things can change rapidly in football.