CHELSEA NO-GO FOR GATTUSO

Gennaro Gattuso's agent insists the AC Milan midfielder will remain at the San Siro rather than joining Chelsea.

The World Cup winner has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge where former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken the reins.

"Milan is his home," said Gattuso's agent Andrea D'Amico.

"The fact that Gattuso has a good relationship with Ancelotti doesn't mean that he wants to leave Milan.

"Everyone knows that Rino (Gattuso) would be perfect in the Premiership.

"We have never had any offers from the Blues outfit (Chelsea)."

Gattuso, who missed most of the season with a knee injury,

is currently on international duty with Italy in South Africa competing at the Confederations Cup


PIRLO SCUPPERS CHELSEA REPORTS

Andrea Pirlo has refuted reports quoting him as being open to a summer switch to Chelsea.

The AC Milan playmaker was believed to have admitted on Wednesday that he could be tempted to follow former coach Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge.

A number of Milan's top talents, including Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Alexandre Pato, have been linked with a move to West London in recent weeks.

The Rossoneri have been quick to announce that none of the players in question are for sale, while the stars themselves have also distanced themselves from the ongoing rumours.

Pirlo insists that remains his official stance and has denied offering any indication that he could be on his way out of Giuseppe Meazza during the transfer window.

"I have never spoken with the Irish Independent (one of the newspapers to run the quotes on Wednesday) and I have never told anyone anything like the quotes which have been attributed to me," Pirlo told Milan's official website

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BRAZIL prodigy Alex Pato is urging Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to sign him for the second time.

The AC Milan striker, 19, is on the Italian chief’s wish-list as he bids to freshen up Blues’ ageing squad.

Ancelotti brought Pato to the San Siro from Internacional in 2007 and his breathtaking form has seen him given a £45million price tag.

Pato said: “Carlo Ancelotti is very important to me, as a coach and a person.

“I feel a sense of owing him a great deal. I have a contract with Milan, but I would be interested if Ancelotti were to call.”

RAFA BENITEZ'S pursuit of England full-back Glen Johnson has stalled - after Portsmouth accepted a rival £17.5million bid from Chelsea.

Liverpool boss Benitez had an offer accepted for Johnson, 24, on Monday.

He was hoping to tie up the transfer this week only for Chelsea to have now matched the Reds' approach.

Johnson has told friends he favours a move to Merseyside after a miserable time at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2007, where he made just 35 league starts.

Yet Chelsea are hoping to tempt him back to the capital with a more lucrative wage package.

Johnson's departure from Fratton Park remains inevitable though.

Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie said: "The matter will come to a conclusion at the beginning of next week. I do not have a preference over the move, it is up to Glen.

"The deals are almost identical so it really is down to him and what club he prefers, which one is going to pay him more money.

"Glen wants to play regularly in the Champions League, he has got himself back in the England side so I understand that. Sometimes you have to be fair to players."

Johnson's performances for Pompey last season elevated him into the position of Fabio Capello's No 1 right-back.

And with the World Cup in South Africa less than 12 months away, he is conscious that unless he is playing Champions League football he could miss out.

Storrie added: "It's a big year for him with the World Cup coming up.

"Playing Champions League football will make him an even better player than he is today."

Also on his way is Pompey defender Djimi Traore, who is joining French outfit Monaco on a free.

The ex-Liverpool full-back was on loan last season at Birmingham and has failed to land a new deal at Fratton Park. He had a Monaco medical yesterday and is set to pen a three-year deal.

could prise José Bosingwa from Chelsea.

The Portugal defender cost £15.8 million when he moved from Porto a year ago and Chelsea will be reluctant to allow him to leave until a replacement can be found.

Paulo Ferreira and Juliano Belletti are recognised right backs, but Chelsea favoured playing Branislav Ivanovic in the position last season in the absence of Bosingwa.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of Bayern, said that he was hopeful of a deal. Willy Sagnol, the right back, was forced to retire because of injury, while Massimo Oddo failed to impress after a loan spell from AC Milan. “We are holding talks, but we still need the approval of Chelsea,” he said. “He is one of the best right full backs around.”

Bosingwa and Chelsea are expected to appeal against their punishments in the wake of their Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona last month. No decision has been taken because they have not received a written explanation of the punishments from Uefa. Bosingwa was handed a three-match ban for accusing Tom Henning Ovrebo, the Norwegian referee, of being “a thief”, while Didier Drogba was banned for four matches.

Chelsea have agreed to sell Ben Sahar to Espanyol for just under £1 million. The striker, who has been offered a four-year contract, played only three games in as many years since he moved from Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant first-team coach, has claimed that some players are overlooking the benefits of the Barclays Premier League. Kaká chose to move to Real Madrid from AC Milan and David Villa, the Valencia striker, looks likely to follow. “Are some of these players taking the slightly softer option in going to Real Madrid and staying somewhere where they know and not taking up the challenge elsewhere?” he said. “Our league is the best league in the world.”