Chelsea have left their £40 million offer on the table for Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery. The Telegraph says Chelsea are understood to be the only club to have submitted a formal bid, in excess of £40 million, for the 26 year-old but Real Madrid are expected to make a decisive move, especially after Ribery's declaration on Thursday that he only wanted to move there.

Manchester United have also been interested in Ribery but Chelsea have made him their top summer target and have not been put off by his comments in the French sports newspaper, L'Equipe.

"It's decided. I want to leave," Ribery said. "Yes, it will be Real or nothing. I would like a discussion with the Bayern directors fairly quickly."

Behind these public statements there is another backdrop. Chelsea, along with other clubs, have remained in dialogue with Bayern over Ribery and have been informed that a decision on his future will not be made before next week which has, understandably, led to the impression that he may be sold after all.