Roman £45m Falcao bid

HE'S RAD ... Chelsea are lining up a bid for Falcao

CHELSEA are plotting a £45million swoop for Colombian superstar Radamel Falcao.

Preliminary discussions have already taken place about a January move for the Atletico Madrid goal machine.
And Blues owner Roman Abramovich has given the green light to a formal bid after watching Falcao destroy his team in last month’s UEFA Super Cup.

The European champions now believe they cannot achieve their ambitions with Fernando Torres as their only front-line striker.

And they are already holding internal talks to work out the best way of being first in the queue for Falcao when the transfer window reopens in January.

A Chelsea source admitted: “The groundwork is already being done for Falcao.
“The owner wants everything in place now so a deal can be done before any other club can make a counter-offer.”

Falcao, 26, has scored an astonishing 115 goals in just three years in European football, including a Monaco hat-trick against Chelsea in the Super Cup.

Atletico paid £32million to sign him from Porto only last summer, but up to half of that fee is believed to have been provided by a third party investment fund which includes the player’s representative Jorge Mendes.

I’m a human hamster

'Tredalo' ... Chris Todd will cross Irish Sea on machine

Engineer ... smiling Chris

WACKY Chris Todd demonstrates how he can walk on water — in a giant hamster wheel.
The engineer, 35, plans to scrabble along like a rodent for TWO DAYS on a 66-mile trek across the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland.

Chris, of Bromham, Wilts, hopes to raise £20,000 for charity on his metal “Tredalo” which took him 11 months to make.

He is waiting for calm weather before setting off from Holyhead.
Chris said: “Imagine spending 48 hours on a stepping machine in the gym without getting any sleep.
“It is going to be one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”

Wheel I never ... Chris has trial run on a lake

Jualan iPhone cecah lima juta unit

GAMBAR menunjukkan iPhone 5.

NEW YORK - Gergasi elektronik Amerika Syarikat (AS), menyatakan semalam bahawa jualan iPhone 5 mencecah lima juta unit selepas telefon pintar terbaharu itu dilancarkan pada hujung minggu lalu.

Apple dalam satu kenyataan berkata, sebahagian pelanggan terpaksa menunggu untuk memiliki gajet terbaharu tersebut ekoran jumlah permintaan kini melebihi bekalan.

"Permintaan untuk iPhone 5 menakjubkan dan kami sedang berusaha keras untuk membekalkan iPhone 5 kepada setiap pelanggan kami," kata Ketua Eksekutif Apple, Tim Cook.
Menurutnya, iPhone 5 mula dijual di AS, Australia dan beberapa negara lain pada Jumaat lalu.

Gajet pintar itu akan dijual di 22 buah negara pada Jumaat ini.
iPhone 5 dijual pada harga bermula daripada AS$199 (RM611) untuk model berkapasiti 16 gigabit (GB) hingga AS$399 (RM1,225) bagi versi 64GB di AS. - Agensi

'Sukar pertahan gelaran juara'

DI MATTEO mahu skuad kendaliannya menampilkan semangat juang tinggi bagi mengharungi kempen Liga Juara-Juara musim ini.

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LONDON - Pengurus Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo sekali lagi mengingatkan anak-anak buahnya bahawa mereka tampil sebagai penyandang juara dalam kempen Liga Juara-Juara musim ini.

Di Matteo memberi amaran itu sebagai satu motivasi apabila The Blues memulakan misi mempertahan gelaran Eropah itu dengan menentang Juventus di Stamford Bridge awal pagi esok.

Chelsea kembali membuat perhitungan di pentas berprestij itu empat bulan selepas meraih kemenangan dramatik menerusi penentuan sepakan penalti ketika membenam Bayern Munich pada aksi final di Allianz Arena.

Ketika itu, Chelsea dibimbing sementara oleh Di Matteo yang mengambil alih tugas André Villas-Boas yang dipecat.

Ternyata, sentuhan Di Matteo membawa tuah buat The Blues apabila merangkul kejuaraan pertama kempen Eropah.

Biarpun pada awalnyatidak diletakkan harapan yang tinggi, namun Chelsea membuktikan betapa mereka berhak merangkul gelaran juara Eropah dengan bimbingan Di Matteo.

Kejayaan itu sudah cukup untuk meyakinkan pemilik Chelsea, Roman Ab- ramovich untuk melantik Di Matteo sebagai pengurus tetap The Blues musim ini.

Menjelang pertemuan menentang Juventus yang akan menjadi ujian sulung Chelsea dalam kempen Eropah musim ini, Di Matteo meramalkan anak-anak buahnya bakal menghadapi tugas berat di hadapan penyokong mereka sendiri.

"Setiap pasukan lawan pasti lebih bersemangat apabila menentang juara bertahan. Jadi, situasi itu akan menyukarkan lagi tugas kami musim ini.

"Saya sedar tiada pasukan meraih gelaran juara Eropah untuk dua musim berturut-turut dan saya tidak terkejut kerana ia memang satu tugas yang sukar.

"Untuk meraih kejuaraan buat kali kedua berturut-turut agak mustahil kerana ia (Liga Juara- Juara) merupakan saingan yang cukup kompetitif," jelas Di Mat- teo.

Sementara itu, penjaga gol berpengalaman Juventus, Gianluigi Buffon sudah bersedia untuk mengekang setiap asakan penggempur Chelsea yang dijangka diterajui Fernando Tor- res.

"Saya sudah tidak sabar mendengar lagu rasmi Liga Juara- Juara. Dalam beberapa tahun se- belum ini, saya hanya mendengar di televisyen.

"Kini kami sudah kembali (beraksi dalam Liga Juara-Juara). Saya dan rakan-rakan sepasukan sudah bersedia untuk bertemu Chelsea nanti," katanya. - AFP

Real Madrid 3 Man City 2

SPECIAL RON ... Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his late winner

JOSE MOURINHO celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner by sliding across the pitch on his knees.

City’s players were on their knees too — devastated that they had lost having taken the lead with just five minutes left.

It was an astonishing end to an astonishing opening Champions League game in which City had battled so hard to prevent themselves being completely overwhelmed.

Somehow they found themselves 2-1 in front when Aleksandar Kolarov squeezed in a free-kick.

It restored the advantage Roberto Mancini’s men had taken on 69 minutes thanks to Edin Dzeko’s opener — a strike which was soon cancelled out by Marcelo.

ALL SMILES ... bosses Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho meet

Real fans were streaming out of the stadium, resigned to another defeat to add to an awful start to the season which had seen them lose two and draw one of their opening four games in La Liga.

But Karim Benzema equalised on 87 minutes then Ronaldo sparked Mourinho’s wild celebrations, which Chelsea fans may have recognised.

BIG HART ... Joe Hart denies Gonzalo Higuain

Ronaldo’s shot in the 90th minute was not bad but, had Vincent Kompany stood firm, it would have hit him in the face.

Instead, the City skipper ducked out of the way and the ball dipped under the diving Joe Hart.

CRIS CROSS ... Ronaldo fires in a shot across goal

It was no more than Real deserved because they had 30 shots on goal — a third of them by Ronaldo — to City’s eight.

Mancini knew how important it was to make a good start in a group which also includes Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.

All four sides are champions of their respective countries and it will be no easy task for City to get through as one of the top two.

SIDELINED ... Mario Balotelli watches his City team-mates from the stands

Last season, they racked up 10 points and still failed to qualify so they wanted at least a point here to give them a decent platform for the challenges ahead.

Mancini had likened his team to a Ferrari in pre-match but they could not get out of neutral during the first half.

There was no sign of Real being in disarray or any disgruntlement from Ronaldo, who has complained about not being loved enough by the Spanish club.

TO THE RESCUE ... Hart saves from Higuain

The former Manchester United winger had a personal duel with Hart in the early stages, twice cutting inside and unleashing shots which the England keeper saved by diving to his left.

City’s new signing Maicon, once a Champions League winner under Mourinho at Inter Milan, could not cope.

DZEK ME OUT ... Edin Dzeko's joy on giving Man City the lead

Maicon was destroyed by Tottenham’s Gareth Bale a couple of years ago and here he was given the runaround again by Ronaldo.

The Portuguese saw another shot deflected to Sami Khedira, whose loose ball over the bar left Ronaldo looking disgusted.

MAKING HIS MARC ... Marcelo is delighted with his equaliser for 1-1

Five minutes before the break, Gonzalo Higuain should have scored when he stuck out a leg three yards out but could only divert Angel di Maria’s cross over.

Once again, Ronaldo did not look impressed.

HEAD SCRATCHER ... Jose Mourinho wonders how to make the breakthrough

It was more of the same after the break with City penned in their own half. Yet unbelievably, despite all the pressure, City scored with 21 minutes left and Yaya Toure was the creator.

The Ivorian wrested the ball from Pepe in his own half and burst down the right. Sub Dzeko — brought on five minutes earlier for David Silva — peeled away and Toure’s pass into his run was perfect.

ALEKS THE GREAT ... City players congratulate Kolarov

The Bosnian gave Iker Casillas the eyes, sent him the wrong way, then slotted a left-foot shot into the net.

Toure was an absolute beast and nearly got a sensational second only to hit the side-netting as he was challenged.

BIG BEN ... Karim Benzema celebrates his late leveller

But the lead lasted just seven minutes before Marcelo — who had been narrowly off target from distance three times since half-time — found the target at last. He left Kompany for dead and hit a shot which deflected in off Javi Garcia, giving Hart no chance.

We expected City to try to hang on as Real pushed for a winner.

DELIGHT ... Jose Mourinho punches the air at the final whistle

But when City won a free-kick five minutes from time, Kolarov’s curling delivery from the right found the corner.

They could not keep the lead though and sub Benzema turned Matija Nastasic on the edge of the area to fire low beyond Hart. The City keeper then made a flying save to deny Ronaldo and it seemed City had at least managed a draw.

But Ronaldo had the final word which broke City hearts.

Diamond wings

Dazzling ... dragonfly

THESE dragonflies seem to be encrusted with diamonds — but it’s actually dew.

Snapper David Chambon creeps up at dawn as droplets magnify their jewel-like colours.

David, 31, who specialises in macro photography at Franche-Comte, France, said: “They look like pure gems. It’s always an adrenaline rush.

“You have to go very slowly not to disrupt them. Each is different — and each time it’s a surprise.”

Morning glory ... bug

m-eye m-eye ... insect's face

Beautiful ... dragonfly

Restoran 80 meter di bawah tanah

PARA pelanggan sedang makan malam di restoran Muru Pop Down yang terletak di dalam lombong Tytyri di Lohja, Finland kelmarin.

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LOHJA - Seorang cef pemenang anugerah membuka sebuah restoran baharu yang unik di Finland pada kedalaman 80 meter di bawah tanah.

Menyajikan pelbagai hidangan istimewa seperti ikan salmon masin, daging anak lembu dan siput dimasak bersama epal cincang, restoran itu berada di dalam lombong batu kapur Tytyri di sini, sekitar 60 kilometer ke barat ibu kota Finland, Helsinki.

Harga makan malam merangkumi empat hidangan di restoran Muru Pop Down itu hanya AS$160 (RM497) termasuk kos pengangkutan pergi balik ke lombong itu dari Helsinki.

CEF Niklas Ekblom (kiri) dan pengusaha restoran Timo Linnamaki menyediakan makanan di restoran Muru Pop kelmarin.

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"Saya seronok bekerja di restoran bawah tanah ini kerana anda jauh dari dunia luar, jadi, anda tiada gangguan untuknya memasak," kata cef berkenaan, Timo Linnamaki.

Seorang pengunjung ke restoran tersebut, Olli-Pekka Jantti berkata, makanan yang disediakan amat lazat.

"Saya juga sukakan kelainan apabila makan di restoran ini, anda berada jauh di dalam bumi, anda berasa amat pelik," katanya.

Lombong berkenaan yang berusia 115 tahun memiliki kedalaman 380 meter.

Sebahagian lombong tersebut masih beroperasi dengan kebanyakan galian itu digunakan dalam industri kimia. - AP

Inside Britain’s £100m home

14-bed mansion for sale with six garages,
two pools, private cinema, gym and panic room

Pricey ... £100million home Heath Hall

CHECK out this lovely little gaff which has just come on the market.

It’s got plenty of potential, plus friendly neighbours, though it’s probably not one for first-time buyers, as it costs £100MILLION.

With 14 bedrooms, a cinema, gym, wine cellar and indoor and outdoor pools, Heath Hall is the most expensive house for sale in Britain.

Splash the cash ... master bedroom's carved stone bath cost £250,000

The brochure alone costs £2,000 but The Sun managed to get a tour, allowing you an exclusive peek inside this phenomenal pile.

Even the bath cost £250,000 — which is more than the average UK property.

Screening room ... private cinema

The historic, Grade II-listed mansion stands out even on north London street The Bishops Avenue — known as Billionaire’s Row.

The lavish property, which once featured on TV talent search Fame Academy, comes with an oak-panelled library, bar, snooker room, breakfast room and six garages.

Big enough for a banquet ... kitchen in Heath Hall

You enter through wrought iron gates and a sweeping drive leads up to a solid oak front door framed by a huge red brick archway.

Step inside and the original grand wooden staircase has been lovingly restored.

Dip into your savings ... for this pricey indoor pool complete with Jacuzzi

Some of the rooms are as large as the average flat.

A secret panic room has its own toilet, basin, control panel and separate telephone wires that cannot be cut.

Sleep in luxury ... mansion's master bedroom is bigger than most flats

Built in 1910 by sugar magnate William Lyle, the stately home had fallen into disrepair when it was bought in 2006 by tycoon Andreas Panayiotou.

Following a £40million restoration it is expected to be bought by one of the world’s richest families.

Rage against the machine ... fitness area with top-of-the-range exercise gear

But not just anyone can book a viewing. Potential customers must pass a rigorous background check before they are even allowed to buy a copy of the extravagant promotional brochure.

Well-lit ... atrium with glass roof at Heath Hall

Estate agent Trevor Abrahmsohn, who is in charge of the sale, says: “We don’t consider this house to be on the market. Before you can even look at the brochure we want to know your inside leg measurement. We want to know who you are, what you do, who you bank with — everything.

Staircase to heaven ... original woodwork was restored

“If you get past that we might, just might, give you a brochure. But I have to be honest, getting a brochure is a negotiation in itself.”

He adds: “I expect this house will be bought by a Russian or a family from the Middle East.

Drink to this ... cellar is kept at 58 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 per cent humidity

“English people don’t spend £100million on one property but people from other countries will. Why? Because they can.”

Rear view ... outdoor pool and tennis court

Cole may quit Chelsea over contract bust-up

STILL AT HIS PEAK ... Chelsea ace Cole

ASHLEY COLE is ready to walk out on Chelsea after only being offered a derisory one-year deal to stay at the club.

The England defender is in the final year of his contract and in January could join another club for FREE.

A club insider said: “Mr Abramovich has a rule that anyone over 30 can only be given a one-year extension but it’s madness in Ashley’s case.

“Everyone knows he’s the best left-back in the world.

“He trains hard, really looks after himself and can play at this level for many more years to come. There isn’t a club in the world who wouldn’t want Ashley on a free.”

Cole, 31, famously left Arsenal in 2006 after claiming he almost ‘crashed his car’ when the Gunners only offered him £55,000 per week.

Now Cole — who is out of England’s game tomorrow in Moldova with an ankle injury — has another contract battle on his hands.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is a huge admirer of his former player and if Cole does quit Paris St Germain and Zenit St Petersburg would offer mega-money deals.

Cole was willing to see out his career at Stamford Bridge so this has stunned insiders.

And last night there was further evidence that Chelsea are ready to lose Cole when his understudy Ryan Bertrand signed a new five-year contract.

Bertrand, 23, has been rewarded for his progress.

He became the first man ever to make his Champions League debut in the final itself in May and made his England last month against Italy.

Another player whose Blues days are numbered is Florent Malouda who has been ordered to train with the kids.

The French winger, 32, tweeted a picture of the club’s Under-21 academy and said: “This is where I’ll train for my last season with the Blues!!!”

Jose's men are Super kings

Real Madrid secured their first Spanish Super Cup since 2008 on away goals after a narrow victory over arch rivals Barcelona in Wednesday's second leg at the Bernabeu.

The hosts had failed to win in their last seven home meetings with Barca but went about ending that record early on with goals in the first 20 minutes from Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Trophy hunters: Pepe (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo

Super kings: Real Madrid celebrate

Real deal: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates victory

The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Adriano was shown a straight red card for denying Ronaldo a clear goalscoring opportunity, but they regained their composure and were brought back into the game by a stunning free-kick from Lionel Messi just before half-time.

Chances continued to come at both ends after the break but Real failed to make their man advantage count and were nearly made to pay as Messi shot just inches wide deep into stoppage time.

Real had failed to win any of their previous three games this season but they did not seem like a side lacking in confidence as they stormed out of the traps early on.

Sharp shooter: Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain scores the opening goal

Higuain should have opened the scoring on seven minutes when his low effort across Victor Valdes was well blocked by the keeper, but the Argentinian was gifted his goal only two minutes later by compatriot Javier Mascherano as the Barca defender misjudged a long ball forward from Pepe and allowed Higuain to run through and this time finish low beyond Valdes.

And it was two just nine minutes later as Ronaldo pounced on an error this time by Gerard Pique. The Portuguese brilliantly back-flicked the ball into his path and, despite a poor second touch, his powerful shot rebounded in off Valdes' body.

The chances continued to come for Real as Valdes again denied Higuain from a narrow angle before Pepe had a header controversially ruled out for a push on Mascherano.

Hit man: Cristiano Ronaldo scores Real's second goal

Part of Barca's disorganisation at the back could possibly be put down to a late change in the starting line-up as the injured Dani Alves had to be replaced by Jordi Alba with Adriano moving to right-back, and the Brazilian's torrid evening only lasted 27 minutes as he hauled down Ronaldo when he seemed set to break free on Valdes once more.

After another unsettling five-minute period for the Catalans, new coach Tito Vilanova eventually introduced Martin Montoya for Alexis Sanchez and a return to four at the back seemed to offer the visitors some comfort as they began to make an impression on the game.

Montoya was inches away from converting a vicious low cross from Andres Iniesta before Messi did eventually halve the deficit moments before the interval with an incredible swerving free-kick from 30 yards.

Ronaldo nearly responded with a long-range effort himself that flew just past and Angel Di Maria also shot narrowly wide as Madrid ended the half threatening a third.

Who else? Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores with a freekick

However, at the start of the second period, it was Barca's tiki-taka that began to dictate play as the pace of the game dropped markedly.

Pedro very nearly scored a carbon copy of his goal in the first leg as Mascherano's perfectly weighted pass saw him through on goal but his prodded finish did not have enough power to get through Iker Casillas' legs and the Spain captain collected at the second attempt.

Sami Khedira then nearly restored Real's two-goal cushion but was denied by another fine Valdes save at the end of a brilliant run.

Hand off: Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova

Barca remained dangerous, though, and another brilliant piece of play from Messi released Alba through on goal, but he just over-ran the ball as he rounded Casillas and was eventually crowded out.

Higuain should have given Real breathing space with 11 minutes remaining but he hit the outside of the post with only Valdes to beat and that miss nearly cost his side as Barca came desperately close to equalising in stoppage time.

Firstly, Montoya was denied by a solid save from Casillas before Messi seemed destined to hand Barca the cup as he found space on his favoured left side just outside the area but the ball slipped just wide and Real clung on for their first Super Cup title in four years.

Source : Dailymail