CHELSEA have confirmed their pursuit of Real Madrid striker Robinho is ongoing despite reports the Brazilian is set to remain in the Spanish capital.
Robinho was reported to have expressed an interest in joining Chelsea, but was quoted by Spanish newspaper Marca insisting he would like to remain with the Spanish champions.
Further reports have now emerged claiming he has agreed a new five-year
contract to remain at the Bernabeu until 2013.
But shortly after touching down in Macau ahead of tomorrow's friendly with Chinese Super League side Chengdu Blades, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insisted discussions with Madrid were continuing.
"The speculation surrounding Chelsea in any transfer window is enormous," he said.
"We have confirmed we are interested in Robinho and have had some conversations with the club. That is ongoing and as the coach has said, he is a player we have identified as a talent.
"If we could get him it would add to what we have got, but if it doesn't happen, the objectives of Chelsea are not going to change."
Blues coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was quick to praise the 24-year-old but also conceded speculation surrounding Chelsea would continue until the transfer deadline on 31 August.
"Robinho is a great player, he plays for one of the best teams in the world and also Brazil," said the 59-year-old, who guided the South Americans to World Cup glory in 2002.
"But at the moment it is not more than speculation. It is the time of the year for speculation, it is the time for agents to put one player here and then there."
The former Portugal coach again refused to be drawn by comments from Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson that Chelsea will not mount a title challenge due to the age of the Blues squad.
"We are diversified – we have young players and mature players," he added. "I strongly believe we can produce what is required this season."
When pressed about what targets he had been set for the upcoming season, Scolari refused to compare himself with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who was continually set tough goals by Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
"My way with Chelsea is the same way I have used with my previous clubs and national teams – to win. It is the same, this is my way. I only follow this way," he said.
"I am Luiz Felipe Scolari, I am not Jose Mourinho and I follow my way not the other way. I do not know if Mourinho said what he could achieve, but I tell my players we need to win, this is all I tell them."
Scolari confirmed he expected to learn more about the injury status of Portugal international Jose Bosingwa later.
The former Porto defender managed just 20 minutes of his Chelsea debut on Wednesday against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical before being withdrawn with a thigh complaint.
Bosingwa was set to have a scan yesterday, but following a delay to Chelsea's flight between Guangzhou and Macau, a decision will be made today whether he will remain with the squad or return to London.
Scolari also confirmed Germany captain Michael Ballack would not feature for Chelsea at the weekend or in the final leg of the Asian tour in Malaysia next week, but admitted the midfielder could feature against Lokomotiv Moscow and either AC Milan or Sevilla at the start of August.
Ballack is set to join up with the squad today after being granted extended leave following Euro 2008.
Scolari has already said Joe Cole, who did not play yesterday, could feature at the weekend as he nears match fitness, but confirmed Andriy Shevchenko would again miss out as the Ukranian striker was not yet ready for a full return.
The full article contains 632 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
