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Last updated: 10th October 2007
Chelsea target? Frank Rijkaard
Revista de La Liga
Tuesdays on Sky Sports
The football rumour mill has thrown out the prospect of a Dutch partnership at Stamford Bridge, with Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard apparently being lined-up to re-unite with compatriot Kenk ten Cate at Stamford Bridge.
Graham Hunter and Guillem Balague discussed the possibility on Revista de la Liga this week and while they agree that the Barca boss is a target for Chelsea, neither of them think he will make the move to the Bridge.
Hunter, based in Barcelona, told Revista that his belief is that Rijkaard is on the Chelsea agenda, but that the Dutchman will turn down the chance of a move again.
He said: "It is absolutely the case that Chelsea's poker, that they want to complete, would not just be hiring Frank Rijkard's ex-assistant Henk ten Cate from Ajax, but at the end of the season their intention would be to invite Frank Rijkaard to come and renew that partnership and work under football director Avram Grant.
"It would be the structure that worked at Barcelona: a football director, a manager and a first team coach. It was when Rijkaard was at his most powerful. They want to do it but I think they will probably fail in their second attempt. Remember Guus Hiddink said to Rijkaard last season, 'will you come if I go to Chelsea?'.
"I think Rijkaard has other plans but I fully understand that Rijkaard and ten Cate represent the Dutch way of football, the 4-3-3 for thrills and silverware."
Milan bound
Balague thinks that Rijkaard's tenure as Barca boss is nearing its end but feels a season off or a move to Milan is more likely than a stint in west London.
He said: "I don't think he would be tempted by a move to the Premier League at the moment. I agree that the offer will be there but the rumour in Barcelona is that this is the last year of Rijkaard.
"It doesn't matter what he does with the team because people feel his cycle is over, board people. What next for him? The famous sabbatical, where he has a rest? Or Milan are waiting for him, with (Carlo) Ancelotti at the end of a cycle. Maybe he will take over.
"What seems clear is that he is a little bit fed up with things, he may rest, but it seems more logical to go to Milan."
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