According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea have signed goalkeeper Matej Delac to a professional contract and have sent him on loan to Vitesse Arnhem.

According to Chelsea’s official website, 18-year-old Chelsea footballer Jeffrey Bruma has signed a new four-year deal with the club that will keep him there until 2014.

According to Wigan Athletic’s official website, Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo for an undisclosed fee. Di Santo signed a three-year deal with the club.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Chelsea made a £4.5million bid for Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic that was rejected. Stoke chairman Peter Coates said,

”I felt huge disappointment. He’s an exceptional young goalkeeper, one of the best in the country … Clubs like Chelsea make enquiries about them and their heads can get turned very easily. It’s just bad advice they get given, they shouldn’t listen to it but obviously they do.”

When asked if Chelsea will sign the 23-year-old, Coates said,

”I know nothing about it. I would say the answer is no. We’re in a difficult position here. We just can’t go out and find a goalkeeper, they’re very hard to find.”

”You may have heard a rumour and it may be pretty good information, but the fact is we’ve rejected any offer they’ve made. They made an enquiry and they did make an offer and it was rejected.”

UPDATE: According to Wolverhampton’s official website, Wolverhampton have completed the signing of Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne on a season-long loan.

August 10th, 2010: According to Bill Howell at the Birmingham Mail, Wolverhampton want to sign only sign Michael Mancienne on loan. Manager Mick McCarthy said,

“We won’t be buying him. And they want to sell him. If they were loaning him out again then that’s a different matter altogether … I haven’t discussed it with Chelsea. From my understanding they want to sell him and he’s asked for a transfer.

‘‘They want to sell him rather than loan him … I’ve got no understanding but I would be interested if they want to loan him out, of course I would, but that’s up to them.”

June 29th, 2010: According to the Birmingham Mail, Wolverhampton want to sign Mancienne but will not wait around forever. Manager Mick McCarthy said,

“We’re still looking and there might be something … I’ve been asked by the press about Michael Mancienne. We’ve gone out and done some business now with signing a centre-half.

“I can’t hang around waiting for decisions to be made which might be negative and then I lose the players I’ve been looking at … So I don’t know what will happen with that one.”

June 24th, 2010: According to the Express and Star, Wolverhampton owner Steve Morgan would love to sign Chelsea defender/midfielder Michael Mancienne if he becomes available. Morgan said,

According to MirrorFootball, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho admitted that the club has no chance of signing Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City. When asked about signing Adebayor, Mourinho said:

UPDATE: According to Santos’ official website (link in Portuguese), Santos starlet Neymar has signed a new five-year deal with the club.

August 18th 2010 According to ESPN Soccernet, Brazil national coach Mano Manezes told Santos starlet Neymar to stay at the club instead of joining Chelsea. Manezes said,

“All understand Neymar’s situation and what must be going on in his mind. But thinking about Brazilian football, his remaining with Santos would be beneficial. The team is on top and it would very good for Neymar to say with them for a longer period.”

Neymar currently has a release clause in his contract worth £29.6million and it is reported that Chelsea had a £24million bid rejected.

UPDATE: According to Real Madrid’s official website, Real Madrid have agreed to a deal for Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil. A statement was made that said,

Real Madrid C. F. and SV Werder Bremen have agreed to the transfer of Mesut Ozil.

As for the amount agreed upon, I’ve seen reports ranging from €15m-€20m.

August 14th 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Real Madrid have made a bid for Mesut Ozil that was rejected. Director of sport Klaus Allofs said,

“We have received an unacceptable offer that does not even provide any basis for negotiations.”

August 10th 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Barcelona have not made a bid for Mesut Ozil despite the rumor going around this morning. Bremen media director Tino Polster said,

“There is no agreement with Barca … There are no talks with and no offer from FC Barcelona.”

August 10th 2010: According to the Manchester Evening News, Werder Bremen confirmed that midfielder Mesut Ozil could leave the club this summer. Bremen Director of sport Klaus Allofs said,

“It is possible that there is now a bit of movement in the issue … But I am not running backwards and forwards to the fax machine or getting sweaty palms when I check my emails to see if maybe an offer has arrived.”

August 1st 2010: According to Ben Fairthorne at the Daily Star, Manchester United and Chelsea are two of five clubs that Mesut Ozil would dream to play for. Ozil said,

“There are four or five clubs in ­Europe that you would have to say as a player would be a dream to play for … Manchester United and Chelsea are very much two of them.

“When you are looking at moving clubs it’s impossible not to pay ­attention to the Premier League and even more impossible not to pay ­attention to Manchester United and Chelsea.”

July 31st 2010: According to James Robson at the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United is the front-runner in the race for Mesut Ozil. It is also reported that United are prepared to make an offer around £12million.

Interesting Note: Mesut Ozil is entering the final year of his contract with Werder Bremen which could reduce his price tag.

July 18th, 2010 According to the Telegraph, Werder Bremen admitted that they are willing to listen to offers for midfielder Mesut Ozil if the 21-year-old wants them to. Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs said,

“I can imagine that in the coming weeks or just before the transfer window closes, one club or another will begin to press us a little harder … We will have to listen to those offers if that is what Mesut wants.”

Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United are a couple of teams that could make a bid for the youngster.

According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea have completed the signing of Benfica midfielder Ramires for an undisclosed fee. Ramires signed a four-year deal with the club after being granted a work permit.

UPDATE: According to Real Madrid’s official website, Real Madrid have completed the signing of defender Ricardo Carvalho. Carvalho signed a two-year deal with the club.

August 11th, 2010: According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea and Real Madrid have agreed on a deal that will send defender Ricardo Carvalho to Madrid. Carvalho is now set to undergo a medical and work out a personal deal with the club.

According to Swansea City’s official website, Swansea City have signed Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair for £500,000 but that fee could increase to £1million due to add-ons. Sinclair signed a three-year deal with the club.

UPDATE: According to ESPN Soccernet, it has been confirmed that Benfica have reached a deal with Chelsea to sell Ramires for £18.2million. Comissao do Mercado de Valores Mobiliarios (CMVM) made a statement to the Portuguese regulatory authorities saying,

“Benfica hereby announces that it has reached a preliminary agreement with Chelsea for the definitive transfer of the sporting and economic rights of the professional footballer Ramires for the amount of €22,000,000.”

August 3rd, 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Ramires is set to undergo a medical for Chelsea.

August 2nd, 2010: According to Martin Lipton at MirrorFootball, Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira has finally given the club the green light to send midfielder Ramires to Chelsea for £18.3million.

July 23rd, 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Chelsea plan to sign Benfica midfielder Ramires for £20million next week. It is reported that the deal is “virtually done” and will be completed in the next few days.

July 22nd, 2010: According to the Telegraph, Chelsea have finally made an offer for Benfica midfielder Ramires.

July 15th, 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Benfica midfielder Ramires stated it would be a dream to play for Chelsea. Ramires told Record,

“My agent has told me that a number of clubs are interested in signing me, but this didn’t surprise me … We all know that the World Cup is the perfect stage to prove your worth … One good game could be enough to attract the interest of a big club. I don’t know the names of the clubs that are after me, but it would be a dream for me to play for a big club such as Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea.”

July 4th, 2010 According to Aidan Magee at News of the World, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are both interested in Benfica midfielder Ramires. His agent Luis Carlini said,

“Many clubs from the big European leagues have been in contact about Ramires. Chelsea and Bayern have spoken to Benfica, but I can’t say more.”

According to Liverpool’s official website, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is completely happy staying at the club. Torres said,

“This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high. Hopefully we can stay at our level. At Liverpool the aim is to fight for every title. It was difficult last season but we are sure we can improve this season. I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my teammates. My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

“From my first day I got the same welcome as Stevie or Carra or players who have been here for a long time. I felt at home from the first day, I feel the fans love me and everyone knows I am really happy here and really happy to play at Anfield. As I said earlier, I’m looking forward to starting the season and playing with my teammates and for the fans.”

Also, be sure to check out the above link as Fernando Torres answers other questions in the interview

According to ESPN Soccernet, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is looking to sign two more players. Ancelotti told Sportske Novosti,

“We are not in any hurry … We have the whole of August to complete deals. The strategy of the club is clear. Compared to last season, we have lost Belletti, Ballack and Joe Cole, so we will add three players in these positions. So far, we’ve brought in [Yossi] Benayoun from Liverpool.”

Chelsea have been strongly linked with Benfica midfielder Ramires and Shakhtar Donetsk defender Darijo Srna so far this summer

According to Simone Bargellini at Sky Sports News, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti ruled out a move for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka. Ancelotti said,

“Kaka cannot come to Chelsea … He was one player of mine and has done so much for Milan, but now he belongs to Real Madrid and he will decide about his future along with his current club … Certainly neither I nor Chelsea will do it (decide his future).”

According to Lee Ryder at the Evening Chronicle, Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is not going after St. Etienne defender Yohan Benalouane. Hughton said,

“With Sol coming in, the focus is unlikely to be on a central defender now … There’s nothing in Benalouane.”

Hughton also mentioned that the signing of Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa is unlikely. Hughton said,

“Ben Arfa is a name that has come up more than anybody recently. It’s a name we know but it’s unlikely.”

Lastly, Newcastle are not looking to sign Chelsea defender Patrick van Aanholt on loan again. Hughton said,

“He did really well for us last season but we’re not looking into that one.”

According to Liverpool’s official website, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is still on holiday but it looking forward to the upcoming season with the club. Manager Roy Hodgson said,

“As far as I know, he is looking forward to coming back here on Monday …He is enjoying a holiday, which is a well-deserved break as I don’t think he’s had one for three years.

“He is spending a lot of time with his family and, as far as I know, is keeping a very low profile and not really speaking to anybody … But he has told us he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season.

“That’s what I know and I would suggest all other reports are erroneous.”

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Rafael Van der Vaart admitted that he was misquoted and that he wants to stay at Real Madrid. He told De Telegraaf,

“I’m determined to stay at Real Madrid … I want to stay here and succeed at Real. It’s a shame that the English press has misquoted me. They’ve written things that are simply not true.”

July 25th, 2010 According to Adrian Stiles at the Daily Star, Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart admitted that he’d be willing to join Liverpool or Chelsea if he were to get lots of playing time. Van der Vaart said,

“I have heard of the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea – and that is very flattering … If either of them were willing to offer me first-team football, I will be honest that it would be very hard for me to not listen to what they had to say.

“I think I have the relationship with Madrid where they understand my position and would let me hold talks … I expect the majority of transfers to be concluded in the next two weeks, and if Chelsea or Liverpool wanted to talk with me I would at the very least listen to what they have to say.

“They are both giants, and if they could offer first-team football it may prove impossible to turn down … Real Madrid is the most prestigious club in the world and I am happy here and also in Spain, but I am at the age where I have to be playing first-team football … I am getting to the point where I will be hitting my peak years and I need to spend those years at a club where I will be playing regularly.

“The boss knows how much he plans to use me, and if he is willing to listen to offers for me.”

According to ESPN Soccernet, Nice have not received any contact from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool about striker Loic Remy. However they confirmed that West Ham United has made contact along with Fenerbahce. Nice chairman Gilbert Stallardo told L’Equipe,

“West Ham? Remy is definitely interested … Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal? I have heard about their interest but I have had no contact. The only clubs I have talked to are West Ham and Fenerbahce.

“Fenerbahce have also contacted Rennes about Asamoah Gyan and Lyon about Bafetimbi Gomis. If either of those players leave, it is not impossible that their clubs will turn to Loic as well.”

UPDATE: According to the Telegraph, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti once again admitted that Ashley Cole is not for sale. Ancelotti said,

“Ashley is a Chelsea player and nobody wants to sell him … We want to keep him in our squad. I am 100 per cent sure he will be at Chelsea this season.

“I consider him to be the best player in his position in the world … I don’t need to talk to him. He is happy to stay at Chelsea. He never said he wanted to go. There is no chance he will go. No way.”

July 17th, 2010: According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti stated that Ashley Cole will be with the club next season, despite the interest of Real Madrid. Ancelotti said,

“I didn’t speak with him [Ashley Cole] … I don’t need to speak with him and he doesn’t need to speak to me. He is a player of Chelsea, did a fantastic season for us and will be an important player for us next season - 100%.”

July 2nd, 2010 According to John Cross at MirrorFootball, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is looking for a move away from the club, creating interest from Real Madrid.

Real Madrid are rumored to have put a package together for the 28-year-old but Chelsea are not willing to sell right now.