Benfica midfielder Ramires has pleaded with the club to resolve his transfer to Chelsea and release him for his "dream move" to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have confirmed that boss Carlo Ancelotti will be handed more transfer funds if the Italian coach asks for them and also moved to quash rumours over Didier Drogba's future.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is playing down his interest in signing Chelsea utility player Michael Mancienne on a permanent basis - at least for the time being.

Joe Cole believes Liverpool can challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Rafael van der Vaart has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Premier League clubs ahead of the new season.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has again insisted that Ashley Cole is not for sale, claiming the left-back is "the best player in his position in the world".

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is likely to miss the start of the season after undergoing a groin operation.

Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho says he is desperate to reunite with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid this summer as he wants to play for the "best club in the world".

Gonzalo Higuain says Real Madrid are "very confident" about signing Ashley Cole and says the Chelsea left back will face les intrusion into his private life if he does move to Spain.

Benfica midfielder Ramires will join Chelsea next week in a £20 million deal, according to ESPNsoccernet sources. Carlo Ancelotti wants the defensive midfield player having lost three experienced stars this summer.

Arjen Robben says that Liverpool's acquisition of Joe Cole puts their attack on the same level as Spanish champions Barcelona and claims Chelsea made a huge mistake in letting the midfielder go.

Chelsea will be without central defender Alex for the start of the Premier League season after he was ruled out of action with a thigh injury.

Chelsea defender Alex is expected to be sidelined for around a month because of a thigh injury suffered in training.

Liverpool made a low-key start to life under Roy Hodgson, with new signing Joe Cole looking on from the sidelines as his team-mates drew 0-0 in the friendly with Grasshoppers in Zurich.

Jon Obi Mikel is named in Nigeria's squad for a friendly in August after missing the World Cup through injury.

Joe Cole has described Liverpool as the "biggest club" in England after finalising his free transfer move to Merseyside on Wednesday. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Chelsea will begin the defence of their Premier League title without Petr Cech after the club confirmed on Wednesday the goalkeeper has suffered a calf injury.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is expected to miss the start of the new Premier League season after tearing a calf muscle in training on Tuesday.

Joe Cole has officially signed his four-year contract with Liverpool after successfully passing a medical with the Merseyside club.

Liverpool complete the signing of Joe Cole on a four-year contract after the midfielder passes a medical.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says there is "no doubt" that Ashley Cole will remain at the club this summer and has warned the defender that he would still face intrusion into his private life if he did join Real Madrid.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was in buoyant mood after welcoming Joe Cole to the club.

Chelsea midfielder Deco has spoken of his desire to return to his native Brazil to win the league title and the Copa Libertadores.

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool have sent a message out to their rivals after confirming the arrival of Joe Cole.

Roy Hodgson says Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher both played an influential role in convincing Joe Cole to join Liverpool on a free transfer.

Didier Drogba's agent has claimed Manchester City have made contact over a move for the striker.

Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a four-year contract, the club have confirmed.

Liverpool sign England's Joe Cole on a four-year deal following his departure from Premier League rivals Chelsea. The midfielder is manager Roy Hodgson's first recruit since joining from Fulham.

Free agent Joe Cole has reportedly been offered £90, 000 a week to become Roy Hodgson's first signing at Liverpool but three other Premier League clubs are still in the hunt for the midfielder.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Ashley Cole will be at the club next season and also appears to rule out a move for Liverpool's Fernando Torres.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists there is no possibility defender Ashley Cole will be joining Real Madrid this summer.

Roy Hodgson has confirmed he has spoken to Joe Cole but played down talk he is on the verge of joining Liverpool.

Dimitar Berbatov has been backed to play a crucial role in Manchester United's attempt to reclaim their Premier League crown from Chelsea.

Chelsea goalkeeper Rhys Taylor says he is keen to extend his two-month loan at Crewe Alexandra for the whole season.

Anderlecht are adamant that highly-rated striker Romelu Lukaku will not be joining Chelsea as he will remain in Belgium to finish his education.

Chelsea have been given a pre-season fitness boost after assistant coach Ray Wilkins confirmed that midfielders Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel should be ready for the start of the new campaign.

Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi will be fit for the start of the Premier League season on 14 August.

Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester United could provide the ideal environment for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli - and suggested he would like to see the player at Chelsea.

Harry Redknapp has told Soccernet he hopes Joe Cole will put his "love of the game" first and sign for Tottenham this summer.

David Villa believes Fernando Torres would never join Manchester City but feels Chelsea and Barcelona are "real options" for the striker.

Fernando Torres' World Cup final injury could scupper a potential £50 million move from Liverpool to Premier League champions Chelsea, according to reports in the UK press.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his desire to be reunited with Kaka, but believes there is no chance of taking him to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Centre-back Tomas Kalas, 17, signs for Chelsea but will stay with Czech club Sigma Olomuc on loan next season.

Chelsea goalkeeper Rhys Taylor joins Crewe Alexandra on a two-month loan.

ESPN's live coverage of the new Premier League season begins at Stamford Bridge when defending champions Chelsea take on newly promoted West Bromwich Albion on August 14.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has flown to South Africa to try to complete the signing of Fernando Torres, with sources telling Soccernet he is willing to pay up to £55 million.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has underlined his desire to sign Joe Cole.

Deco looks set to leave Chelsea to return home to Brazil after agreeing terms with Fluminense.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos expects the club to complete deals for Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard this summer.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich are eager to sign Benfica midfielder Ramires, according to the player's agent.

2010 World Cup: Cape Town This World Cup was supposed to provide the stage for the greatest players on earth to shine. But following Argentina's stunning 4-0 defeat by Germany on Saturday , the big five of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Kaka and Didier Drogba have all returned home from South Africa earlier than expected. Between them, just...

Chelsea have completed the signing of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Germany star Mesut Ozil has revealed he would be open to a move to Manchester United or Chelsea.

Peterborough sign Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi from Chelsea and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on a season-long loan from Wolves.

Joe Cole's agent has poured cold water over speculation linking the midfielder with a move to Italy, claiming he is still trying to negotiate a transfer with several English clubs.

Mauro Boselli has revealed that he consulted former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron about English football before signing for Wigan.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy may abandon his bid to sign Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy remains hopeful Premier League champions Chelsea will allow Michael Mancienne another loan spell at Molineux.

Perhaps it was predictable that Ivory Coast's Elephants should do their best rampaging just 30 miles from the Kruger National Park but the question now is whether this 'golden generation' will be put out to grass. Following their early exit, Didier Drogba was immediately asked whether he'd be back for Brazil 2014. "That's a good question but I don't know...

Former Germany captain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack signs a two-year deal with his former club Bayer Leverkusen. Ballack was released by Chelsea at the end of last season and missed the World Cup through injury.