Chelsea believe their pursuit of the Real Madrid forward Robinho will go "to the wire" after selling Shaun Wright-Phillips to Manchester City yesterday. The winger, 26, who had a seven-year spell with City from 1998 until 2005, has signed a four-year deal at the club for an undisclosed fee.
He said: "I'm delighted to come back to City and I can't wait to get started again." Now Luiz Felipe Scolari will step up his chase for Robinho. The Brazilian manager has trailed his fellow countryman all summer as he looks to add more attacking flair to his squad The Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "We are ever confident that it will get done and we hope that he will be joining us." The Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insisted last night that he has not given up hope of staving off Chelsea's attempts to sign Robinho.
He said: "Robinho continues being a Real Madrid player and the coach counts on him. Those in charge of the sporting side of things want him to continue." Chelsea were also linked with a world-record £80million (Dh560m) bid for Kaka, but he said: "Me going to Chelsea? I'm staying as a Rossoneri player.I've always said I'm happy at Milan and as long as my aims remain the same as Milan's I'll stay here."
Martin O'Neill will not attempt to rush Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry into signing a new contract if he is still with the midlands club when the transfer window closes on Monday. Barry's agent Alex Black claimed the long-time Liverpool target "will not leave Aston Villa" before the current window ends. It will be a massive relief to Villa boss O'Neill who admits he was resigned during to losing the services of the England player.
He said: "If Gareth stays with us, I will be really delighted. But as for the future now, let's go one step at a time." * With agencies
