Real announced earlier in the week that Carlos would join Chelsea as soon as Abramovich confirmed the £20 million fee. Nothing else has been said on the matter since... until now!

JT said "I'm sure there are going to be another two or three signings this summer. I've heard rumours about Roberto Carlos and a couple of others. But it doesn't make you nervous, it makes you excited really. It's going to make our chances even better next year.

"All Bridgey can do if we do sign Carlos is continue what he's been doing. And I'm sure if we do sign him, he's going to have a tough job to get Bridgey out of the side.

"That's the way Wayne has to approach it because he has been brilliant, he has to keep going and I'm sure he will be in the first game of the season.

"Behind Lamps, he has probably been the second best player at Chelsea this season. What a fantastic player Bridgey is. He's pushing Ashley Cole all the way at left-back for the Euro 2004 finals.

"The fans have taken to him, he's a great lad and he's been absolutely brilliant this year. I knew he was a good player at Southampton but, playing with him week in and week out, you realise it even more.

"It's not just his game, he never misses training and he's such a fit guy. You realise what a good player he is."

And he scored the first game winning goal against Arsenal for Chelsea since Frank Lebouef six years ago! That certainly did him no harm...