60m plus Bosingwa: Bayern reveal Chelsea’s mega-bid for winger Ribery
CHELSEA failed with a monster bid of almost £60m plus Jose Bosingwa for Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery in the summer, according to the German club.
Ribery was one of Europe’s hottest properties over the close season, with a host of the continent’s leading sides attempting to prise him away from the Allianz Arena.
The France winger ultimately stayed put, owing largely to his club’s determination to retain their prize asset, but not before Chelsea tested their resolve with a huge offer.
“The best bid came from Chelsea: €65m £58.5m plus Bosingwa,” said Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness. “We also received other offers of €76m (£68m) and €80m (£72m). He never came to us and said he wanted to leave at any price. He always said to us that he would like to move to Real Madrid, but that if we wanted to keep him, then it was not a problem.”
Chelsea could return with another offer in the January transfer window, when they are widely expected to strengthen their squad as they look to recapture the Premier League title.
By then Bayern could be out of the Champions League, with tomorrow’s clash between Juventus and Bordeaux potentially fatal for the Bundesliga club’s European aspirations. And Hoeness admits they could struggle to keep Ribery if they suffer an early exit from the competition.
“We want to create the conditions which give Franck the feeling that he can achieve something here in Munich,” said Hoeness. “If he cannot see this potential, then he will leave.”
Chelsea are thought to have made £40m-rated Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero their top target for January. The new year could be the league leaders’ last opportunity to buy players until the summer of 2011 if a Fifa transfer ban is upheld next year. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who beat Wolves 4-0 on Saturday, are set to lose a host of first-team players, including Didier Drogba, to the African Cup of Nations in January.