Chelsea transfer news: Ramires plays down links with Real Madrid and Juventus

 
Going Nowhere: Ramires rules out Chelsea exit
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Simon Johnson7 January 2015

Chelsea midfielder Ramires is adamant he is not looking to leave Stamford Bridge and dismissed talk of a move to Juventus or Real Madrid.

Ramires has been at Chelsea since joining from Benfica for £18.2m in 2010, but is no longer an automatic first choice.

Manager Jose Mourinho revealed yesterday that the Brazil international has finally made a full recovery from a thigh injury which has restricted him to just five starts this term.

However, Chelsea are also aware that he has been attracting interest from Juventus and Real Madrid in recent months and are considering using him in their ambitious bid to sign Paul Pogba or Raphael Varane respectively.

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Both France internationals were on Mourinho's wish-list last summer and Chelsea plan to make another attempt to acquire them at the end of the season.

Mourinho rejected an enquiry from Madrid over Ramires in the last close season when he asked after France defender Varane.

He has also been earmarked as a possible replacement for Pogba should he ever be sold, although his value has soared after signing a new contract at Juventus in October.

Ramires would command a fee in excess of £20m, but the 27-year-old is only focussed on helping Chelsea succeed.

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He said: "Juventus and Real Madrid are two of the biggest teams in the world. I'm flattered that my name has been linked to them, but I know nothing of any negotiations. I'm just thinking about Chelsea and doing my job here."

Meanwhile, Everton are not looking to cut Christian Atsu's season-long loan from Chelsea short and hope to use him much more in the second half of the campaign.

Atsu has made only nine appearances for Everton since agreeing to make the switch in August.

The 22-year-old, who moved to west London from Porto for £4m in 2013, was hoping to make a major impact at Goodison Park this term to improve his chances of forcing his way into Chelsea's first team squad next season.

He has now left to join Ghana's squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, but Everton boss Roberto Martinez has seen signs of improvement in recent weeks and promised to give the winger more of a chance on his return.

He said: “It always takes time to adapt to the needs of the British game and it takes time to settle in.

“Christian has been doing very well in training and he is ready now to have a big impact on the side, that’s the way I feel.

“It is disappointing that he has to go away now but, if he can play some games and get some minutes under his belt we can pick that up when he gets back.”

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