from Fox Soccer this morning (link here):

Chelsea are being linked with a summer bid for Hamburg captain Rafael van der Vaart after sending scout Rainer Bonhof to watch the German club.

The Dutchman turned in a superb performance in the 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend, scoring Hamburg's goal and setting up numerous chances for his team-mates.

Blues scout Bonhof, a former Germany international, was in the crowd - and he admitted one player stood out.

He told the German press: "I can't say which player I came to watch but when you have a look at the match, you could imagine who was the most interesting."

Chelsea were linked with a move for van der Vaart last summer, while Juventus are also interested.

But the midfielder insists he is staying focused on Hamburg for the rest of the season.

Van der Vaart said: "The interest of other clubs is at the moment secondary. I want to win a title with Hamburg."

well this puts Lampard's future into furthur doubt. I haven't seen Van Der Vaart play, but when I see highlights of his game, it puts our midfielders to shame.

If VDV ends up at Chelsea then I would be very surprised. As he wants to play for Juventus and Juventus seems to want him then I can't see why he would end up with us.

Still, Juventus are reported to be out to get Diego and if they get him in the summer they might not go for VDV and therefore he might go to us instead.

I can't see Juventus buy Diego and VDV because they'll also be getting Giovinco back in the summer. No reason to have 3 attacking central midfielders.

Wow, I did not know that Rainer Bonhof was a Chelsea scout. He was one of my favourite players back in the day (the 70s), classy midfielder, kind of like a German Socrates, if you know what I mean.

I don't care about Van de Vaart, but the news about Bonhof makes me very happy.

With him in the team, lampard may just go. also with vdv and Huntelaat in the team, that could be very exciting! It also seems to me that these could be on the recomendation of Cate (or, that Cate is building a team for him to take over in the summer?)

Don't think Henk would ever take over fully; not least because Avi is Roman's mate, but also because he just seems more suited (and maybe happier?) working under someone else, even if he and Steve Clarke do all of the hard work :)

Sounds great. Hope it is true.

Whoops.

VDV would be a brilliant addition to the squad, but i dont think he could/would ever replace Lamps.

If we lose Drogba, which lets face it, look's quite certain, then we must hold on to Frank.

i agree if drogba does go, and so does lamps, we need to be making some massive signings in the summer. VDV fits the bill imo.

":3swdx91m]VDV would be a brilliant addition to the squad, but i dont think he could/would ever replace Lamps[/b].

If we lose Drogba, which lets face it, look's quite certain, then we must hold on to Frank.

Yeah well that's because he knows how to deliver a decent pass, something that you cannot expect from Lampard and very

rarely from Ballck, dont expect anything from Mikel except a red card. Frank Lampard is a great player but considering his recent perfomances

what makes you so damn sure that he is irreplaceable. Lampard is a chelsea legend but as soon as he leaves chelsea it will be better for everyone concerned. I want to remember him as a player who lead Chelsea to great heights in his prime, not as someone constantly delivering rubbish perfomances and now a shadow of his former self. So i think that Van Der Vaart can replace Lampard and may add a new dimension to our game.

well the stange thing about Lampard is he'll play exceptionally well one game, but then play like total cr*p another game. Since the Man City game, I really can't say i've been impressed. Also, he's been injured which in recent years would have been un heard of. I'd be happy with VDV, only thing is that i can't see Sidwell ever getting a game if VDV is signed. Not a bad thing actually, but Sidwel's decent

Frank Lampard is a great player but considering his recent perfomances

what makes you so damn sure that he is irreplaceable. Lampard is a chelsea legend but as soon as he leaves chelsea it will be better for everyone concerned. I want to remember him as a player who lead Chelsea to great heights in his prime, not as someone constantly delivering rubbish perfomances and now a shadow of his former self.

If the re-emergence of Ballack this season has taught us anything at all it is that "form is temporary, class is permanent" and "don't write off a champion". I'd frankly amazes me how much people over react to a players change in form thinking that it is somehow permanent and that the player will never recover. Lampard's had one (yes, one) poor match since returning from injury and people are writing him off. All it takes is Ballack to have a poor game or two and Lumpy to put in another performance like he did vs Man City and suddenly the boot will be on the other foot again and people will be speculating Ballacks departure.

Perhaps us Chelsea fans are destined to make the same stupid mistakes over and over and over again...................

If Lamps or DD goes in the summer we just need to get over it and try and find a replacement for them. Personally I hope we try to get VDV but then we would have to give up either Lamps or Ballack from which I think Ballack is going to stay with us.

Lampard is still one of the best players in his position and he will be for many years to come. Sometimes you just think that is Lampard's best days behind him and is his presence forcing us to play the way(style) we have played. Would VDV bring some flair and new ideas to our game? Sure, but that might cost us champioships etc.. tough questions IMO..

dont expect anything from Mikel except a red card.

F*ck me sideways, the kid's 20. Cut him slack whydon'cha? What, you never got a bit hot headed when you were 20? Never lost your cool when you shouldn't have? Football's a contact sport. Deal with it. I'd much rather Mikel got stuck in than ponced around like an extra on Come Dancing. Gordon Bennett. Some people.

i agree with brian. people on here are starting to get to me. the pessimism is becoming embarassing. of the reds mikels recieved, only 1 was a definte red. the one against manyoo was never a red card. likewise the one against everton. give the kid some slack and try supporitng him instead chelse instead of continually slagging them off. if you dislike chelsea players that much, go support qpr or something.

dont expect anything from Mikel except a red card.

F*ck me sideways, the kid's 20. Cut him slack whydon'cha? What, you never got a bit hot headed when you were 20? Never lost your cool when you shouldn't have? Football's a contact sport. Deal with it. I'd much rather Mikel got stuck in than ponced around like an extra on Come Dancing. Gordon Bennett. Some people.

Nicely put Brian

BTW: Havnt heard 'Gordon Bennett' for donkies - wheres it come from?

dont expect anything from Mikel except a red card.

F*ck me sideways, the kid's 20. Cut him slack whydon'cha? What, you never got a bit hot headed when you were 20? Never lost your cool when you shouldn't have? Football's a contact sport. Deal with it. I'd much rather Mikel got stuck in than ponced around like an extra on Come Dancing. Gordon Bennett. Some people.

Nicely put Brian

BTW: Havnt heard 'Gordon Bennett' for donkies - wheres it come from?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/gordon-bennett.html

Nicely put Brian

BTW: Havnt heard 'Gordon Bennett' for donkies - wheres it come from?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/gordon-bennett.html

Fast and thorough

I always mix up the term for the study of words with the term for the study of insects!!

Fast and thorough!!

That's what the ladies tell me!

Not normaly big on agreeing with brian but he's spot on here. I can think of a few other midfielders that saw red more than once in there career's

Kean, viera, zidan, and a bit closer to home wisy was always a risk, would all the mikel bashers have had them out just as quickly?

It also doesnt help his cause that the game has gennerly become a bit of a pansy's sport!!

Fast and thorough!!

That's what the ladies tell me!

LADIES????? Surely some mistake

LADIES????? Surely some mistake

Well they told me they were ladies, Yorkey...

LADIES????? Surely some mistake

Well they told me they were ladies, Yorkey...

Isn't that Loz in the background?

Loz is never in the background.