Soccer

Chelsea linked with move for Van Nistelrooy

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho believes Arsenal would never consider selling any of their top stars to a Premiership rival as speculation…

Mon May 22 2006 - 01:00

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho believes Arsenal would never consider selling any of their top stars to a Premiership rival as speculation continues Chelsea are lining-up a bid for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Blues are reported to have met with the agents of the Dutch international about the possibility of a £15million move which includes Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen going to Old Trafford as part of the deal.

Van Nistelrooy's five-year spell at United looks to be finished after the 29-year-old left Old Trafford before their final league of the season after he discovered his name was not on the team sheet or among the substitutes.

While Chelsea will face stiff competition from Inter Milan and Tottenham for Van Nistelrooy, Mourinho has already confirmed they will listen to offers for Gudjohnsen.

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Chelsea are still chasing AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko and he has promised to reveal his decision this week, but while the reigning Premiership champions try to lure Van Nistelrooy from one of their main title rivals, Mourinho says Arsenal would not even consider selling to a rival.

Chelsea remained heavily linked with England left-back Ashley Cole even after the infamous 'tapping-up' scandal but Mourinho believes Arsene Wenger would never consider allowing one of his top players to go to a main title rival.

Mourinho said: "I don't think Arsenal would sell any of their top players to a rival. First, they don't want to sell but I think it is impossible for a club like Arsenal to sell to their rivals and if they had to, they would sell players to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan  - never to a direct opponent in the Premiership."

But Mourinho does expect the next Premiership season to be a lot closer than the last two when the Blues have dominated.

"It won't just be Arsenal," admitted Mourinho. "I think Man United had a very good Premiership, they won a lot of matches and had a very good season. Liverpool finished very well with a lot of consecutive victories and they are very strong opponents.

"Last season I was trying to imagine a competition ending on the last day of the season. But it was not like that. You never know what can happen but I think we will have to be very good if we want to keep the title."