Betis chasing Pizarro

Real Betis are hoping to persuade Claudio Pizarro to leave Chelsea and join them in a move which would make him the Spanish club's star signing this summer.

Incoming Verdiblanco chief, Luis Castel, wants to begin his reign at the helm by bringing in a player that will excite the fans, and has made the Peru international his No.1 target.

Marca believe that talks have already begun regarding a potential transfer, and Castel confirmed that the club are negotiating with a player, but refused to confirm or deny if it was Pizarro.

"We are talking with a great player, a striker that (coach Paco) Chaparro and all the fans will really enjoy having in the squad," he stated.

Burden

The 29-year-old striker is aware that the Blues are prepared to let him leave just a year after signing him from Bayern Munich, as he is not expected to feature in Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans.

Along with not wanting to keep a player in his squad that could become unhappy, Scolari will also have been advised by the club that his reported €4m-per-season wages are a considerable burden that they could do without.

Chaparro has called for Betis to strengthen if they want to avoid a campaign struggling against the drop, and has stated that a new striker is vital to their cause.

Pizarro may not have been a hit in West London, but his stock remains high on the continent and the Andalucian outfit will not be alone in their pursuit of the forward if their enquiries are met with a positive response.

According to reports, Paris Saint-Germain and Werder Bremen are also monitoring the situation and could be prepared to enter the race for Pizarro's signature.

Dead wood dead wood dead wood dead wood!

for the easily confused, gem thinks pizarro is dead wood.

Well, mabye I'm being harsh, he didn't exactly get any sort of run did he... but I'd still quite happily sell him.

Take him!

It was a case of us getting the wrong Bayern Munich striker last season. We should have got Santa Cruz rather than Pizarro. I would be quite happy if we were able to sell him in the transfer market this summer.

It was a case of us getting the wrong Bayern Munich striker last season. We should have got Santa Cruz rather than Pizarro. I would be quite happy if we were able to sell him in the transfer market this summer.

Only sell if we have a replacement. We cannot start the season with Drogba with a dodgey knee and Sheva. If DD's knee is an issue we'll have Sheva as our only option and to be fair he just can't cut it anymore. I haven't mentioned Kalou because I'm not sure of his best position, it's certainly not playing as a lone striker.

Anelka Bluenut?

Well, mabye I'm being harsh, he didn't exactly get any sort of run did he... but I'd still quite happily sell him.

no, I totally agree, no need for him when di santo could use that game time.

Anelka Bluenut?

Completely forgot we had him :o

Goes to show what an impression he made on me last season :D

he wasn't great but neither was grant's use of him to be honest- wonder what scolari could get out of him.

he wasn't great but neither was grant's use of him to be honest- wonder what scolari could get out of him.

Hopefully a few million.

bit harsh after 6 months... (despite his stupid comments after the cl final) I'd like to see what he does this season first.

bit harsh after 6 months... (despite his stupid comments after the cl final) I'd like to see what he does this season first.

I was kidding (a little bit). I'm not too fussed if he stays or goes really. If Scolari wants to keep him and give him a chance then fair enough.

If we do sell Pizzaro, I really don't think we need to sign a replacement.

Would much rather see Pizarro's place in the squad go to Di Santo and maybe Sahar when he returns from his loan.

That, and Kalou should be given a bit more of a run as a striker - thats where I see him ending up eventually (when he learns to finish).

If we do sell Pizzaro, I really don't think we need to sign a replacement.

Would much rather see Pizarro's place in the squad go to Di Santo and maybe Sahar when he returns from his loan.

That, and Kalou should be given a bit more of a run as a striker - thats where I see him ending up eventually (when he learns to finish).

I like Kalou and thought he was good value last season. However my gut instinct tells me that players don't really learn to finish. They either can or they can't. He will get better at finishing but will never be great. Hope I'm wrong because he has every other aspect needed for a great striker, skilful, fast, good attitude, team player.

However my gut instinct tells me that players don't really learn to finish. They either can or they can't.

That's not true at all in my opinion.

There are only a handful of strikers I can think of who are absolute clinical finishers in their early 20's. The vast majority develop the skill with lots of match experience.

If you want a good example - look at Thierry Henry. In his Monaco/Juve days, he was pushed out on the wing, as he had all his pace, all his technical skill, but couldn't finish.

I see Kalou in exactly the same situation at the moment.

Finishing is something that is almost entirely in your head. In a non-pressure situation, anyone can beat a keeper one on one. Its not quite as easy in a match. The good thing about this is that with a lot of high-pressure match experience, some faith from his manager their is no reason why Kalou won't improve his finishing significantly in the next few seasons.

He's actually already improving if you ask me. Last season he seemed a lot more mature player than when we signed him as a 20 year old.

IMO it's unfair to call Pizza all kinds of names when he was given so little playing time to prove himself

I'm quite excited by the prospect of Di Santo, to be perfectly honest; and I have not given up on Anelka. I think, used the right way, he could be an asset. We'll see.

Cheers,

Butch

They cant be 'chasing' him too hard, my 82 yr old granddad could catch him. I must admit i to forgot about Anelka,he has'nt even entered my thoughts for next season. Jesus how can you forget about a £15m centre forward, i know he hardly set the world alight last season but he'd be a record signing at probably 95% of clubs in the world.

We must be getting spoiled

IMO it's unfair to call Pizza all kinds of names when he was given so little playing time to prove himself

:D

:D

You beat me to it :D

NEWSPAPER.... Betis chasing Pizarro!

CHELSEA SUPPORTERS....Have him.

Anelka will only play good when he is placed in the centre.

He played to much on the wing.

BAD MOVE AVRAM.

I have not given up on Anelka. I think, used the right way, he could be an asset. We'll see.

I think that is very true, Butch.

I think Anelka has been another victim (along with Sheva, Crepo and others) of the Mourinho/Grant style.

Our style of play for the last 4 years has been so completely built around getting the best out of Drogba that we seem to forget how to play any other way when it is someone else up front.

I think that Anelka, depsite being 30-odd now, has definately not lost his pace, and we need to play to that asset. We need to be sucking the opposition forward, and playing him in behind them. That is how he has scored goals throughout his career.

For the second half of last season when we had Anelka, it seemed like we either played him alone up front in EXACTLY Drogba's role (and wondered why he didn't do as well as Drogba????), or played him wide right.

I think that Anelka will hopefully be another player who will really benefit from Deco being in the side. I think someone with his creatitivy playing centrally, knoocking balls through for Anelka to run on to could be exactly what he needs.