FOOTBALL: Chelsea on Claude nine thanks to a Real clanger

IT'S NOT often I say this, but Madrid have made dropped a Real clanger in letting Claude Makelele go to Chelsea.

For pounds 13.5m and pounds 45,000 a week Chelsea have got themselves a bargain. He is also the midfield anchorman they have been looking for, the one who can free up Juan Veron.

Makelele is such a versatile player. I've seen him play for France at right back as well as in midfield and he is so skilful, showing great tenacity and with a great engine - he really is a smaller version of Roy Keane.

He's the one player that could have - and has - done it week in, week out in a position Real Madrid struggle.

It also doesn't make financial sense. The 31-year-old runs their midfield and is on pounds 25,000 a week, yet there are guys like Steve McManaman sitting on the bench banking pounds 75K a week.

Even the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo are on pounds 100,000 a week.

What this does do, however, is put even more pressure on David Beckham.

He hasn't had the best of starts, but as I've said before it really does take a few months to settle down.

Unfortunately, his cause wasn't helped in the Super Cup against Mallorca by the fact that none of his team-mates played well either.

What this means is that with Real only having Esteban Cambiasso as the only recognised anchorman, Becks is likely to move more into a central midfield role more regularly than being out on a right wing which is what Real bought him for.

As for Makelele, he can now give Chelsea the benefit of what Real will miss...all for an extra pounds 20k a week.

IT'S just 24 hours before the transfer window is slammed shut til January. Two potentials which could be interesting involve Valencia's Roberto Ayala and striker John Carew.

I offered 30-year-old Ayala - who I regard as one of the top three defenders in the world - to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, but he said the Argentine was too old for him.

There's a good chance, however, he will end up at Real Madrid before the next 24 hours is out...and that could be their saving grace because their defence needs plugging.

Carew was due to be joining Everton on loan. David Moyes phoned me the other day as he is looking for a big, strong target to play up front alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney.

But the Everton boss was a bit stunned when I said that Arsenal were making a late bid for him.

We'll just have to watch this space.

RANGERS' financial bacon has been saved again. There they are with huge debts and one decent European performance against Rosenborg in the Champions League qualifier this week has assured them a battle of Britain against Manchester United...and an extra pounds 12m in the bank.

They are trying to sell Barry Ferguson for pounds 7m in the same way they tried to offload Arteta in the summer - they were banking on it - for about pounds 10m. It didn't come off and left them really sweating financially. But they have escaped this time. What will add extra spice to it is that United boss Alex Ferguson is an ex-Ranger and will want to get one over on his old boys.

Biggest losers of the week must be Newcastle, who blew a golden chance to play Real Madrid.

They had so many chances in the first half, but in the end Partizan Belgrade won it with a well worked goal, but the fact is the pounds 10-pounds 12m that Newcastle have missed out on could well cost them the Premiership title.

Arsenal's group is very interesting because if they want to be the best in Europe they're going to have to get out of one of the toughest groups.

Admittedly, they have got a front line to frighten anyone - especially Milan - but they're going to need to have their defence of Sol Campbell and Martin Keown fully staffed for those lovely trips to the Ukraine and Russia in October and November.

Chelsea also have a tough group with Turkish champions Besiktas in their pool, but I can see Roman's men coming out of this on top.

Lazio are not the side they used to be. I saw them play Chelsea the last time around when I went to see Sven Goran Eriksson. At the time Veron was playing for Lazio and the Italian club was very much the big money boys of European football.

How times have changed.

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