Blues Chase Bellamy

The latest reports regarding English football's January transfer window suggest that Manchester City have made a new improved bid for West Ham United forward Craig Bellamy. The Blues have inevitably been linked to a vast array of names following their takeover by the multi million pound Arabian consortium Abu Dhabi United Group in the summer. City manager Mark Hughes has made no secret of his intentions to add to his squad during January, with England international left back Wayne Bridge already added to the roster this month, signing from Chelsea for a fee thought to be in the region of £12 million. It is understood however that West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola and the Hammers have rejected City's bid for their 29 year old star - thought to be in the region of £9 million - claiming that he has no intention of letting any of his first team squad leave Upton Park. If Bellamy were to go, he would remain cup tied in the FA cup having played in the Hammers' 3 - 0 third round victory over Barnsley. However, with such a huge transfer budget available and with rumours of financial instability rife at Upton Park, Zola may have his hands tied should City up their big again.

United Crush Below Par Blues

This afternoon's clash at Old Trafford was built up to be the fixture of the Premier League season so far - it wasn't. The only highlight of a scrappy first half saw Nemanja Vidic heading in just before the break. The big Serb's goal dented the hopes of an unambitious Chelsea line up - who had seemingly been given instructions by Scolari not to concede at all costs, and had done very little to threaten Van Der Sar's goal. The blues showed little sign of improvement in the second half, even the arrival of in form striker Anelka having little impact as he continually failed to link up with Drogba. Even the great Frank Lampard proved unusually ineffective and the game was virtually killed dead when a fired up Wayne Rooney - who had earlier kicked out at Chelsea full back Bosingwa - converted Patrice Evra's cross. A late Berbatov goal piled the misery on the visitors, who have looked out of sorts in recent weeks. It may be too easy to say that Chelsea's title hopes are over but any further abject displays such as this one and they will surely be dead and buried.