Chelsea’s 3rd kit revealed.

Chelsea revealed the new third kit of the season. It has the same technology as the new away kit, only this one has color so much less shocking than the other. After a long wait, fans finally get to see the new design of the third kit. White, designed with blue and black stripes and new Premiership typeface at the back. I’m not sure I dig this so much more than the away kit. But this one looks pretty good. (Perhaps the players only were bad models of the kit.)

Alex move closer to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are now in the process of applying for a work permit for the Brazilian defender Alex, who arrived in England on Sunday to discuss personal terms with the club.

“Alex was due to arrive into England yesterday to discuss personal terms,” Chelsea announced.

“Chelsea Football Club are in the process of applying for a work permit for the player in line with normal football and employment procedure.

“At airport immigration there was a request to clarify Alex’s current status. All of the paperwork for his entry was in order.

“After an initial delay, he was cleared to enter the country. He chose voluntarily to fly back but will return when necessary.”

One obstacle however to the player being granted a work permit is the rule that requires players to have played at least 75% of the matches of their national team.  Alex has only played 8 out of 14 games or 57%.

Terry’s £135,000 a week causes some stir.

John Terry has just signed this week a new 5-year contract tying him to Stamford Bridge until 2012. That’s not what’s causing a stir. Instead it is his record-high weekly pay of £135,000.

Jimmy Hill, who scrapped the League’s £20 maximum wage 46 years ago, admitted to being surprised how players now could earn so much. “However forward thinking I was, I could never have envisaged what we were earning then – £20 a week – ever getting to where it’s got now,” he said. That doesn’t mean however he disagrees with such. What he disagrees with is the management paying beyond their means.

“It actually fulfils my passion that players should be free to be paid a fair percentage,” he added.

“I haven’t changed my view. A player is quite entitled to get a fair share of what his club is earning.”

Real Madrid target Ballack.

Bernd Schuster, Real Madrid coach, has spoken on behalf of the club their interest to sign Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack this summer. While the German player holds a contract which ties him to Stamford Bridge until 2010, the coach has nevertheless explained, “With his class, he would fit in perfectly with Real Madrid.  I can very well imagine him playing for my team.” He also said that the club would be willing to pay good money to the player.

Ballack has failed to impress since he signed with the London club last summer and given our most recent addition to the midfield, Ballack leaving wouldn’t hurt us so bad. I think.

Terry seals new 5-year contract.

After a long time, Chelsea defender finally signed a 5-year deal with the club which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012.  He and Frank Lampard’s future had been in doubt as they tried to negotiate a new deal with Chelsea.  While Lampard’s contract still has to be fixed, John Terry finally seals a deal believed to be worth £150,000 a week.

“I’m really happy this has now been concluded,” said Terry.

“There has been a lot of speculation but these things take time and I never had any doubts that I wanted to stay at Chelsea and that the club wanted me to stay.

“I hope that the fans can see that we are all trying to build something special here, both for now and for the future, and I want to be a part of that.

“I have been at Chelsea all my career and have the privilege of being captain. Now it’s time to look forward to the new season, which we are all very confident about.”

Chief Executive Peter Kenyon comments on the momentous event: “This is an important day for Chelsea. This was the right deal for us and for John.

“As a club we are committed to try and keep our players together on long term deals and this was a natural progression from last season when other players also committed themselves for the long term.

“As captain, John is clearly a key player for Chelsea and also a great symbol of the club so naturally we are pleased this has been agreed.”

More Asians could enter the Premier League.

Manchester City have agreed to let three Thai internationals try for the club at the request of the club’s new owner and former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra.  Centre-back Kiatprawut Saiwaew, right-back Suree Sukha and striker Teerasil Dangda are all set to try out and Shinawatra expects Sven to sign at least 2 of them.

Chonburi defender Kiatprawut explains: “It’s an honour. I’m ready for the trial. I may need time to adjust to the English game and the weather there but I think there should not be a problem.”

Fellow Chonburi defender Suree added: “At first, I thought it was not true, but it is now true. I could get a chance to play in the English Premier League. I will try my best and hopefully three of us play together in the Premier League.”

SAF brands Liverpool as opportunists, but is glad JM has learned his lesson.

Even before the season starts again, the old guy has already started bashing other teams.  Who else to bash but Liverpool and even Chelsea. The Welsh manager called the Scousers opportunists as they launched a bid weeks ago for the Red Devils’ player Gabriel Heinze.  The manager is apparently not willing to do business with the Spanish manager Benitez and will only let the player go if he says so.

“He’s our player, that’s the important thing.

“He’s not Liverpool’s player, despite them going on like he’s their player. He’s got two years left on his contract, if he completes his contract and then leaves at the end of it, that’s fine by us. We’ll have had five good years out of him.”

Fergie also said the blame could be put on agents.”Liverpool are opportunists, like the rest of them. The agent has obviously presented them with a situation and they’ve looked at it.

“If an agent came to me with a letter saying Steven Gerrard was available for a certain fee, I would do the same.

“I think the role of the agent is very, very doubtful here. There’s no question about that,” he added.

However, he also admitted to have been interested to sign Fernando Torres but their every attempt failed.

On the other hand, he is glad that Mourinho learned his lesson by keeping a low-profile this time and providing less controversial comments.  Last season, he made headlines several times for his comments.

” It’s probably a good thing, because he was getting himself into all sorts of difficulties,” Fergie said.  He adds: “He’s obviously not relished the bad publicity.  He has obviously learned his lesson a little bit. Everybody does.”

Mourinho defends himself however by saying that it is normal to be emotional and to react to something that is not fair.  He said that he wants to be more mellow this year.

Cole fit to start the new season.

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is reported to be ready to play once again for the club after he had ankle surgery over the summer.  He didn’t play in Wednesday’s friendly match against Feyenoord but is already back in training in preparation for the opening of the new season.

“It is good to be back, taking it day by day and hopefully I can start the season.

“I finished my first full session back with the lads and I am glad to be back enjoying it.

“But I can still feel it a bit and so I have got to take my time and make sure I am fully fit for the start of the season.”

Even before that, the player hopes to play in the club’s remaining friendly against Danish side Brondby on July 31 and the Charity Shield against current Premiership champions Manchester United on August 5.

“I will have a good week training now and hopefully be involved against Brondby and of course hopefully the Community Shield,” he added.

“I don’t want to rush back because it has been a tough month for me getting fit and I don’t want to waste all that hard work, start the season and then have to stop really, really early.”