Home

Transfer News
Rumours
Done Deals
Official Speculation
Fans Rumour Mill

Other News
EPL News
Serie A News
La Liga News
Other Euro News

Results/Fixtures

Standings

Statistics

Injury Reports

Columnists

Forum

Chelsea given warning by French star

Chelsea defender William Gallas has warned the club they must make him a "serious" contract offer and reassure him about their ambitions to persuade him to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Gallas, who has become a regular in the France national side, insists he is "not scared" to leave the west London club to satisfy his desire to win trophies.

Although the 25-year-old centre-back has three years left on his existing deal, he is looking for a major improvement in wages.

Indeed, he has upped the ante by going public with his demands ahead of imminent contract talks, while reportedly claiming his agent has already spoken to other clubs.

Chelsea may wish to investigate that claim, although, following on from John Terry's recent call for a new contract, Gallas has now put even greater pressure on the club not to lose two of their most highly-prized assets.

He told the Evening Standard: "I'm trying to renegotiate my contract and am waiting for Chelsea's response. If they make me a serious offer, then I'll stay.

"I'm happy here but I'm a professional and if another club offers me a better deal, I'd think about it. I wouldn't rule out moving. My agent has spoken to several clubs and we'll have to wait and see.

"I want to be in a team that wins trophies and, if necessary, I'll move elsewhere to find that. I want to win things. It's only a 10-year career and I want to go to a club that is challenging for trophies.

"I will go and play in any country, it's not a problem. I would miss Chelsea - the fans, the stadium and London - but I only have 10 years. It's up to Chelsea.

"I'm not scared to leave. Chelsea have the potential to win things - we reached the FA Cup final last season - but we'll have to see what players are here next season.

"I want to win all the titles and championships that are available. This may not be possible at Chelsea and I may have to move elsewhere to achieve my ambitions.

"Other players feel the same way and Chelsea have to convince us they match our ambition."

Gallas, who signed from Marseille for £6.2million two years ago and was recently voted into the Premiership team of the season by his fellow professionals, has a £7.5million escape clause in his contract.

However, that is only the sum which he would have to pay to buy his way out of his contract, with a transfer fee able to be demanded by Chelsea on top of that.

Then again, the club seem determined to keep him, with chief executive Trevor Birch insisting: "There is a meeting arranged with the representatives of William Gallas in the next couple of weeks and there are similar plans with John Terry's agent."

Chelsea had delayed contract talks with not only Gallas, but also Terry, Gianfranco Zola and Eidur Gudjohnsen, until after they reached the Champions League, albeit with a qualifying tie still to be negotiated.

Despite their fourth place finish, Gallas nevertheless believes Chelsea, who made only one free transfer signing in Enrique de Lucas last summer, still need to invest more in their squad this summer.

"The players know each other really well and if we stayed together and signed two or three others - a defender, a midfielder and a striker - we could do well," he said.

"Next season there'll be extra matches in the Champions League so we need lots of cover. I'm not sure how we'll do next season, it depends which players are here."

Gallas was quick to praise the "inspiration" of compatriot Marcel Desailly alongside him, but was still not slow to pinpoint the team's shortcomings this season.

"Arsenal and Manchester United win games that we can't win. They have better organisation and mental strength. We seem to lack the self-belief to win those crucial games," he added.