Roman Abramovich was an unknown billionaire when he took over Chelsea in 2003. The Russian oligarch transformed the west Londoners from Champions League qualifiers into Premier League winners within two years – and cemented his legacy at Stamford Bridge in doing so.
His reputation for many years was that of a brutally harsh but passionate football club owner. His firing of talented managers such as Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at the first sign of trouble underlined his desire to be successful at all times.
The perception of the former Chelsea owner has been tarnished in recent years. Abramovich was forced to sell the club in 2022 due to sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs with ties to Vladimir Putin following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Roman Abramovich ‘Didn’t Do Business’ With Tottenham
Carlton Cole played for the Blues from 2001 to 2006 before departing for West Ham United on a permanent basis. The retired striker has revealed since hanging up his boots that he was actually set to move to another Premier League club.
That was until Abramovich caught wind of the pending transfer and personally stepped in to stop the deal from going through. That club was London rivals Tottenham. Cole explained in a 2023 interview (per The Sun):
“I almost joined Spurs. I went and did my medical and everything.
“Roman Abramovich found out and he said ‘you’ve got to come back, you’re not joining them’.”
The Chelsea owner insisted he wouldn’t do any business with the north London outfit and demanded Cole return. The ex-England man added: “He said ‘You can’t go to Spurs, I don’t do business with them’. I’ve got an alternative for you’ [said Abramovich]. I drive back to Stamford Bridge with my uncle and my dad.
“He had his interpreter with him. Roman Abramovich was there, we were talking. I was saying ‘where am I going?’”
Abramovich then tried to tempt Cole into renewing his contract at Stamford Bridge and a move to the other club he owned, CSKA Moscow. Cole refused, as he continued:
“He said, ‘I will give you a new contract but you’ve got to go to CSKA Moscow. His other team. I was trying to get into the England team. Those days you could not go abroad. If you go abroad you don’t get in the England team.
“So I said to him, ‘I ain’t going to CSKA Moscow, pal.”
The only player to leave Chelsea for Tottenham during Abramovich’s 20-year reign was goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini. That wasn’t a direct transfer, either, as the Italian shot-stopper left Stamford Bridge upon the expiry of his contract in 2009.
Bayern Munich are exploring a shock summer move to sign Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, according to a breaking update from Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
Liverpool have only just appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager, and they are working on incoming signings following summer exits for three of their key players in Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds are already working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as Salah’s successor at Anfield, and they lead the race for his signature after the positive steps that have been taken on player side, according to Ornstein.
The Merseyside outfit want to add to their attack rather than lose players from it, but Bayern clearly have different ideas as they look to bolster their frontline ahead of next season.
Ornstein: Bayern Munich Exploring Rio Ngumoha Move
In a surprise update on Friday evening, Ornstein claims that Bayern are exploring a move for Ngumoha, with the Liverpool winger their primary target as they look to bring in a left-sided forward during the summer.
The 17-year-old is aware of the Bundesliga giants’ pursuit even though there has been no contact between the clubs yet, although Liverpool insist their teenage sensation is not for sale and they want to add to the squad rather than weakening it in the coming months.
Andoni Iraola’s appointment at Liverpool has many fans hoping to see a return to the type of football Jurgen Klopp embedded at Anfield during his nine-year reign.
Arne Slot’s more controlled style of play ended up being unsuccessful in his second campaign at the club, and ultimately led to his sacking. Iraola has impressed at Bournemouth, taking them from relegation favourites to European football in just three years.
While he has an incredibly difficult task getting anywhere near Klopp’s legacy on Merseyside, he may even excel more than the popular German in some areas. According to one man who has played under both managers, at least.
Andoni Iraola Elevated Former Liverpool Star
England international Dominic Solanke spent two years under Klopp at Liverpool after joining from Chelsea in 2017. The striker was expected to go on to big things, but only managed 27 appearances for the Reds, playing second fiddle to Roberto Firmino.
He was still young when Bournemouth came knocking in 2019, signing him for £19 million. While that was still four years before Iraola would even appear at the Vitality Stadium, the Spanish coach took him to a new level.
Doubts have emerged once again over Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool manager heading into the summer.
Solanke had two very good goalscoring seasons in the Championship following the Cherries’ relegation. However, there was still a question mark over whether he could translate that to the top-flight. His first season back in the Premier League saw the Englishman only net six times.
Iraola then joined the next summer (2023) and immediately turned Solanke into a prolific goalscorer. He found the net 19 times in the league in the Spaniard’s first term and earned a £65 million move to Tottenham.
Dominic Solanke Raved About Iraola at Bournemouth
In a December 2023 interview with The Times, Solanke credited Iraola’s style of play for his upturn in form. He did admit the players struggled to take his approach on board at first, saying: “We couldn’t take in all the information at first.”
He explained how it took time to adjust, before everything became second-nature: “For me, I’m pressing with a No.10 behind me and, at first, our timing was off. We didn’t know when to press or to drop, but now it’s second nature as the manager has gone through it many times and it’s embedded in our heads and we are all on the same wavelength. It’s natural now.”
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The five-cap England international spoke glowingly about his old boss’ man-management: “Iraola’s really good with the players. We all get on really well with him. He’s easy to talk to. He’s very detailed in his tactics so we have a lot of meetings. He’s always willing to speak separately to make sure everyone’s on board.”
The part that will now excite Liverpool fans the most is how Solanke credited Iraola’s high-pressing tactics as a big factor in his success at Bournemouth. The forward explained:
“Part of my success is because the manager loves pressing high. I’m high up the pitch, in the centre of the goal much of the time, and not having to drop back too much and am finding myself in good positions, more than last season probably.
“The manager’s style definitely suits me.”
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 05-06-26.
Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a £120,000-a-week contract offer to Manchester City forward Savinho, according to a reliable insider.
Having staved off the threat of relegation, Tottenham now look ready to make a real statement in the summer transfer market.
Not only do Spurs chiefs need to back the manager who saved them from dropping into the Championship, but they need to build a squad that significantly improves on two successive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.
After two disappointing seasons, it is imperative and likely that there will be a number of player exits, but Roberto De Zerbi will also want to add multiple new faces to his team too.
Tottenham have already agreed their first two signings of the summer, both on free transfers, in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi following their exits from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.
There had been some talk that Liverpool could hijack the Senesi deal after Andonio Iraola’s appointment at Anfield, but that has been played down by GIVEMESPORT sources.
Changes to the north London outfit’s frontline are also likely, with Randal Kolo Muani returning to Paris Saint-Germain following his loan spell, while doubts have been raised over the futures of Mathys Tel and Richarlison.
Tottenham Confident of Reaching Savinho Agreement
Premier League – Aston Villa v Manchester City – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – October 26, 2025 Manchester City’s Savinho reacts REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Tottenham wanted to sign Savinho from Manchester City last summer but a deal ultimately failed to materialise.
Now, Spurs are back in for him, and they want to get a transfer over the line this time around with a move progressing, according to Fabrizio Romano.
According to one reliable City insider account on X, the north London outfit have offered the Brazilian a deal worth around £120,000-a-week to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The ‘extraordinary’ 22-year-old’s salary went up to £92,000-a-week, plus bonuses, last summer following Spurs’ interest, with City informing their Premier League rivals they would need to pay in excess of £60m to land a top target.
Nevertheless, there is ‘confidence’ that an agreement will be reached between all parties.
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Savinho Signing Would Raise More Questions Over Mathys Tel
If Savinho does arrive at Tottenham in a big-money swoop, you would assume he would immediately lock down the left-wing position in De Zerbi’s starting XI.
That would instantly raise question marks over Mathys Tel’s role in the team moving forward, even though De Zerbi has labelled him as a ‘big talent’.
The Frenchman is able to play as a striker as well as on the left-hand side, but it was the latter position that he featured in mostly for Spurs in the final weeks of the season, with Richarlison and Dominic Solanke preferred in the centre-forward position, when the latter was fit.
Spurs could look to bring in a new striker this summer and if Savinho also arrives, then it might be the bench at best for Tel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
One report this week has suggested that the player is looking to leave the club after just 12 months, with Bournemouth and FC Porto already making enquiries about signing the 21-year-old.
He scored four goals in 31 Premier League appearances for Tottenham this season.
