Stamford Bridge expansion plans as club aim to increase capacity to 60,000

• Roman Abramovich wants Stamford Bridge to be a cathedral of football
• Tuesday will mark the start of a three-day public consultation at the Bridge
• Project to expand Stamford Bridge to 60,000 will cost in excess of £500m
• Abramovich has ruled out leaving Stamford Bridge on permanent basis
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Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will unveil his remarkable vision for the future of the Premier League champions on Tuesday at the start of a three-day public consultation at Stamford Bridge.

The exhibition for local residents will be the first glimpse for Chelsea fans of Abramovich’s blueprint for a rebuilt 60,000 stadium that he wants to be a cathedral of football, paying homage to the club’s history at their one and only venue.

The design of the four new stands will take their inspiration not from the uniform style of most recent stadiums, but from the buttresses, pillars and gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey in whose diocese Stamford Bridge once stood.

An impression of Chelsea’s new 60,000 stadium which has been inspired by Westminster Abbey

Here is what the South Stand at Stamford Bridge would look like if Chelsea's expansion plans come to fruition

Roman Abramovich has ruled out leaving Stamford Bridge as he wants it to become a cathedral of football

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The North Stand, East Stand, South East Corner, South Stand and West Stand will be refurbished 

Barclays Premier League outfit Chelsea plan to expand Stamford Bridge from 42,000 to 60,000

And the history of the club’s surrounding neighbourhood has been studied to the extent that a modern version of Stamford Bridge itself — first mentioned in 1410 to be in need of repairs in the court rolls of Henry IV — will be part of the grand design more than 600 years later, going back to the future.

This attention to detail has even included researching the exact shade of the original Chelsea blue.

The building plan — with no estimated cost at such an early stage but likely to be well in excess of the mooted £500million — is being financed by Abramovich, who is conducting the whole ambitious project as a separate entity run by his people away from Chelsea Football Club business.

He has assembled a professional A-list team comprising a masterplan architect (Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands), stadium architect (Herzog & De Meuron), strategic planners (Aecom), railways and transportation (WSP) and structural engineers (Schlaich Bergermann & Partner) to work on the plan.

It would see Chelsea spend three seasons playing at a temporary home, with Wembley and Twickenham two possibilities.

Abramovich, who bought Chelsea from Ken Bates in 2003, is understood in June 2013 to have finally reached the conclusion that the club should stay at Stamford Bridge and extend there rather than move elsewhere.

Chelsea chief Abramovich watches his side from his executive box at the west London stadium in Fulham

Abramovich wants to spend another billion pounds on Chelsea before handing the reins to his 21-year-old son

Here is an aerial view of how Stamford Bridge looked ahead of the 1993-94 Premier League campaign 

Stamford Bridge looks remarkably different to how it was structured back in April 1959

This follows a frustrating decade in which Abramovich examined a number of fanciful proposed alternative sites including Earls Court, Battersea Power Station, White City, and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. But none proved feasible — with the only winners being those who collected the numerous consultancy fees.

Billionaire Abramovich’s eureka moment has led to his handpicked group working for two years towards this first consultancy exercise, which will take place in the East Stand.

The fine detail will see the Chelsea owner and his building team work within the contours of the current site at Stamford Bridge, with the new four stands even following the angles of the old singular North Stand and the shape of the ground as it was in 1939.

A general view of the huge crowd at Stamford Bridge for an England vs Scotland match in April 1913

Chelsea will list their reasons for expanding Stamford Bridge to 60,000 at the three-day public consultation

Supporters leaving the new Stamford Bridge will be able to gain quicker access to Fulham Broadway station

Most of the new seating capacity will be in the South Stand and the two hotels on the concourse will be demolished, with Abramovich wanting his new Chelsea to be for football only.

The benefits to the neighbourhood will include long-planned pedestrian walkways above the railway lines that define the boundaries to two sides of the site, plus seats reserved for local residents.

Despite the disruption the building of a new stadium will cause to locals, Chelsea fans can be assured that it will at least guarantee the Abramovich ownership dynasty.

Part of Roman’s reasons for wanting to spend the best part of another billion pounds on Chelsea is to eventually hand over a stadium fit for a European football superpower to his eldest son, 21-year-old Arkadiy, who has inherited his father’s love of the club.

Work is in progress when it comes to finalising plans for the expansion which would take years to complete

A closer look at the 'work in progress' in the planning of Chelsea's new 60,000 seater in west London

Chelsea could move to either Wembley Stadium or Twickenham while Stamford Bridge is being rebuilt

Photographer captures stunning images of deadly saltwater crocodile while snorkelling in Cuba

• Adventurous snorkeller Ricardo Castillo got some holiday snaps to remember while swimming in the sea off Cuba
• Castillo had nothing to protect him from the deadly 12ft long reptiles - except his camera and years of experience
• Got within just a few inches of the predator to obtain incredible images of one of the world's most fearsome animals

Adventurous Ricardo Castillo certainly got some holiday snaps with a difference.

Castillo, 39, was snorkelling in the sea off Cuba hoping to capture underwater images of sharks but instead came across another deadly predator in the shape of saltwater crocodiles.

And he had nothing to protect him from the 12ft long reptiles - apart from his camera and years of experience of swimming with dangerous creatures.

Snorkeller and photographer Ricardo Castillo captured incredible underwater images of saltwater crocodiles off the coast of Cuba

As a result he was able to get to within a few inches of the Cuban crocodile and obtain stunning shots of one of the world's most fearsome animals in its natural environment.

At one point the reptile even touched the lens of Ricardo's waterproof camera, allowing him to get a snap of the inside of its huge and lethal

Ricardo, from Mexico, was snorkelling in the mangroves of the Gardens of the Queen marine park in Cuba.

He said: 'I was there to take shark pictures and the crocodiles just happened to be there. I was in the water to get these pictures - it is usual to snorkel with crocodiles in this place.'

Castillo had nothing to protect him from the 12ft long reptiles - apart from his camera and years of experience with dangerous animals

As a result, he was able to get within inches of the fearsome animals and snap these photographs, including one with its jaws open

Ricardo Castillo, who is originally from Mexico, was snorkelling in the mangroves of the Gardens of the Queen marine park in Cuba

'Some of the crocodiles come by when they listen yo the boats because some fisherman clean their fish close to the mangrove where the crocs live,' he added.

'When you see the crocs and the size of them you just need to stay all the time in the front or the back of it - never to the side because it is very easy for the croc to bite someone then.

'I was very close to it. I use a 14mm lens and the croc touched the lens dome of the camera.'

Although he had ventured into the water to take pictures of sharks, the crocodiles just happened to be there 

At one point, one of the large reptiles even touched the lens of Castillo's camera with its teeth, providing a rare photographic opportunity

Ricardo says that when people see these photos, they usually think he's crazy - but that's just because they're frightened of the unknown

'When people see the pictures the first thing they say is 'you are crazy' but people are frightened by the unknown,' he said.

'I always say that diving with sharks or crocs is not about courage or bravery, it is about knowledge and experience.

'The risk is always present, they are wildlife but if you learn to see their behavior you can predict what is happening. 

'The thing is to recognise the time to get out to the water safe.'

Secret cameras capture preparations for China's barbaric annual meat festival

• Thousands of dogs and cats dead as Yulin festival gets underway 
• Locals divided over cruel trade with some buying pets to keep them alive 
• Many animals wearing collars suggesting they have been stolen 
• Slaughterers hit them over the head, cut their throats open, then boil them 
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Undercover footage of the notorious Yulin meat festival has emerged as tensions mount ahead of tomorrow's official launch. 

Thousands of dogs are being shipped in and slaughtered by dog traders to mark China's summer solstice, which will then be eaten and washed down with lycee wine.  

Harrowing pictures have emerged of the stolen family pets and other waifs and strays, stuffed inside cramped metal cages as they are lined up to be sold at the cruel carnival. 

Sad: Dogs are kept in a cage at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin, Guangxi Autonomous Region

Dogs can be heard yelping as animal rights' campaigners surreptitiously film the dog markets, keeping the camera hidden from view for fear of angering locals.

And photographs, taken by members of Humane Society International (HSI) capturing brutal slaughterhouse scenes in the city, clearly show the trade in dog meat is already well underway.

Distraught campaigners and outraged locals have been going there to buy pups and save them from certain death.

Hundreds of animals have been rescued and purchased from dog meat traders, but thousands are expected to be killed and their meat consumed for the festival, which authorities have tried to deny is still happening, charities say.

'We've seen all manner of dog breeds coming in to the rescue shelters, some of them obviously someone's pet because they still have their collars on with their names,' said Adam Parascandola, from the HSI. 

Trade: A customer holds a puppy for viewing at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin, which officially starts tomorrow

Crude: A butcher grills a butchered dog at a slaughter house at a dog meat market in Yulin

Cruel: Some of the dogs suffer injuries during transportation from being kept in tiny cages like these

Vendors wait for customers as dogs are kept in a cage at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin

Undercover footage: A campaigner records the scenes in Yulin as it prepares for the local meat festival

'There are also a lot of cats and tiny kittens rescued. It's nauseating to think that these poor guys were next to be beaten to death and eaten. 

 It's nauseating to think that these poor guys were next to be beaten to death and eaten.

Adam Parascandola, Humane Society International

'We know that these are only a small number compared to the thousands who have already suffered and died, but every life saved is precious.'

He said there was a 'real divide' in Yulin between the older generation dog meat traders and the younger generation Chinese animal traders who want it to stop. 

He said: 'We've also seen just ordinary Chinese citizens who have no connection at all to animal rights but have seen the news and felt compelled to come down and help these animals. 

'It's inspiring actually, and a real sign of hope for a future China without this horrific dog and cat meat trade.

Many of the animals die on the long truck journeys from across China with others suffering such horrendous injuries that they cannot stand in the filthy pens they are transferred to.

Saved: Adam Parascandola holds one of the lucky rescued dogs as thousands are expected to be slaughtered in the coming days

A survivor? A man holding his young boy chooses a puppy at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin. Some dogs are sold as pets but most as meat at the festibval

Slaughtered: Butchered dogs at a slaughter house in a dog meat market ahead of the Yulin festival

For sale: Butchered dogs are displayed at a vendor's stall at a dog meat market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin

Dinner: A boy looks at a bowl of dog meat carried by a waiter at a dog meat restaurant as his family has a gathering to eat dog meat and lychees

Off to market: A man loaded butchered dogs drives past a pet dog at a dog meat market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin

Shocking: A butcher holds a butchered dog at a slaughter house in a dog meat market with dozens of dead cats laid next to him

Preparations: Cooks cut dog meat at a dog meat restaurant ahead of local dog meat festival in Yulin

Controversial: A cook roasts crispy-skin dogs in a restaurant as some 10,000 dogs are expected to be killed

Those who do survive are clubbed over the head and have their throats cut open before they are thrown into boiling water. The butcher then plucks all the hair, removes all the organs and puts the dog on the grill.

Up to 10 million dogs are believed to be killed for their meat in China every year, with as many as 10,000 killed for the Yulin festival alone. 

The festival itself has no cultural significance, it was invented by dog meat traders in 2010 as a way to boost their flagging business. 

Although dog meat can be found in China today, it is not widely eaten by the average Chinese person and is not part of mainstream culinary practice. 

Xing Hai, a Chinese activist working with HSI, said: 'I'm ashamed that around the world China has become famous for its animal cruelty, and Yulin in particular, and I want people to know that there are thousands of us here in China who are sickened by this cruelty too. 

'This is not the China that we want, the old ways of treating animals have to end, Yulin is just the start.' 

Inhumane: The cats whose meat will eventually be sold for around £2 per half a kilogram - are crammed so tightly into cages they can barely move

Cruel: Dogs are kept in a cage at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin, Guangxi Autonomous Region

BOoming trade: Vendors wait for customers as dogs are kept in a cage at Dashichang dog market ahead of a local dog meat festival in Yulin

Poor conditions: A dog with a weeping eye lies at the Dashichang dog market before Yulin's meat festival

Fierce trade: The dogs are bought and sold before the cruel festival in Yulin, China

For sale: Caged dogs wait to be sold in a market on Sunday before the official start of the festival tomorrow

Cooked: A butcher grills a butchered dog at a slaughter house at a dog meat market in Yulin

The organisation claims the local government could be violating China's national policy by allowing the cruel festival to continue.

It is legal to eat dogs in China and the country has no law protecting the welfare of pets but its Ministry of Agriculture has strict rules which require every cat and dog to have an 'inspection certificates' before they are transported.

Because most of these animals are stolen pets or strays grabbed off the street, dog meat traders do not have the right paperwork or produce 'fraudulent documents' instead, HSI claims.

Some slaughterhouse owners admitted they did not have 'quarantine certificates' and local health inspectors never visit to check out the animals - many of whom look visibly sick. 

Berhati-hati Bila WhatsApp...Mungkin anda akan dipenjara

Bilangan Jutawan China bertambah...!!!

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Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema and Kevin De Bruyne... Who are the big names that could come to the Premier League this summer?

• Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with all the big English clubs
• Manchester City are preparing a move for Lars Bender as a contingency plan
• Manchester United have earmarked Bastian Schweinsteiger for their midfield
• Former Chelsea man Kevin De Bruyne could move to City in a £45m switch
• Karim Benzema could quit Real Madrid for the Premier League's top clubs
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The Premier League is crying out for new stars to sparkle next season yet our clubs are facing an arduous task in convincing Europe's elite that England is the place to be.

Italy, led by Juventus, are enjoying a renaissance; Spain's big two remain dominant; Bayern Munich want to build again while the nouveaux riche at Paris Saint-Germain want it all. 

Here, Sportsmail spotlights some of the stars in demand.

 

PAUL POGBA

Juventus

Cost: £65million

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea would all like the Juventus midfielder but his agent Mino Raiola is blunt about the player going to the highest bidder.

PSG want the French international to spearhead their Champions League push next season as do Barcelona who can do a deal from January 2016.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea would all like to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba

Raiola said: 'Offers are already coming in, but Juventus don't want to sell, they must make it an auction. His transfer would be one of the most expensive in history.

 

LARS BENDER

Bayer Leverkusen

Cost: £22m

City have drawn up contingency plans should they fail to land Pogba and Germany international Bender is one of the names on their list.

The 26-year-old has also been watched extensively by Arsenal and Manchester United. Twin brother of Dortmund's Sven, Lars is a rangy defensive minded midfielder who is comfortable bringing the ball out of defence.

City have drawn up contingency plans should they fail to land Pogba with Lars Bender a potential target

He is a German international and is contracted to Leverkusen until 2019 but has had injury problems throughout his career.

CHANCES: 2/5

 

GONZALO HIGUAIN

Napoli

Cost: £37m

The Argentina international wants to leave Napoli but the club is reluctant to sell without getting their money back.

He is 27 and carrying a little extra weight which has concerned some observers including scouts at United.

Gonzalo Higuain wants to leave Napoli but the club is reluctant to sell without getting their money back

Juventus have expressed an interest in recent weeks while Arsenal and Chelsea have monitored his progress. Jose Mourinho is a fan from his time at Real Madrid. United want two strikers but have yet to bid for Higuain despite reports in Italy.

CHANCES: 3/5

 

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER

Bayern Munich

Cost: £8m

United have earmarked Schweinsteiger as one of their options for midfield where they are also considering Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin.

Schweinsteiger is on big wages and turns 31 years old on August 1.

United have earmarked Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger as one of their options for midfield

Economically it may not seem the best signing but Louis van Gaal wants someone to share the burden with Michael Carrick of pulling the strings and recognises the experience, calm and technique that the Germany international can bring to his squad.

CHANCES: 2/5

 

KEVIN DE BRUYNE

Wolfsburg

Cost: £45m

One of the outstanding performers in Europe this season, former Chelsea midfielder De Bruyne has just been named the best player in the Bundesliga.

City sporting director Txiki Begiristain has spoken to his agent Patrick De Koster and is keen to make a deal happen, his club want him to sign a new contract while Bayern Munich, PSG and Juventus have also expressed interest.

Former Chelsea midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has attracted interest from City with his Bundesliga displays

De Koster said: 'I will have informal talks with Wolfsburg this week so we will have to wait and see.'

CHANCES: 3/5

 

DOUGLAS COSTA

Shakhtar Donetsk

Cost: £24m

The Brazilian has made his love of Chelsea and Mourinho clear and very nearly made that move happen in January.

Instead Chelsea pushed ahead with a deal for Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina, one that has not been successful. Indeed, Inter Milan are trying to take Cuadrado on loan with view to a permanent deal and that could pave the way for Costa's arrival.

Brazilian forward Douglas Costa could be joining international team-mate Filipe Luis at Chelsea

Liverpool and Arsenal have also shown a keen interest in the attacking midfielder who has a Portuguese passport.

CHANCES: 4/5

 

KARIM BENZEMA

Real Madrid

Cost: £35m

A striker all the Premier League would want and one who could be struggling to make the starting line up at Real Madrid next season.

Rafa Benitez is considering playing Cristiano Ronaldo as his centre forward and Benzema may start on the bench.

Karim Benzema could be struggling to make the starting line up at Real Madrid next season

His agent Karim Djaziri is undeterred however. 'I haven't met with any club in London,' he said. 'Not with United and not with anyone else. Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements, because he isn't going to leave of his own accord.'

CHANCES: 1/5

 

Here's a few that should arrive in England this summer:

YOHAN CABAYE (PSG) £10m

The stylish midfielder has been pushed out by PSG's all-star cast so is looking for a return to the Premier League and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is keen to sign him

Yohan Cabaye has been pushed out by PSG's all-star cast so is looking for a return to the Premier League

 

ANTHONY MARTIAL (Monaco) £18.5m

Raw but exciting French forward who has shone in the Champions League. The teenager is a big favourite with Tottenham who will push for a deal in the coming weeks.

Anthony Martial (right) is a big favourite with Tottenham who will push for a deal in the coming weeks

 

CEDRIC SOARES (Sporting Lisbon) £3.5m

Attacking Portugal international right back has been watched by Arsenal, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Schalke but is the subject of a £3.5m bid from ambitious Stoke City.

Cedric Soares (left) has been watched by Arsenal, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Schalke, plus Stoke City

 

CRISTIAN BENAVENTE (Real Madrid) £4m

The 'Peruvian Ronaldinho' has been starring under Zinedine Zidane's tutelage for Castilla but is now in talks over a move to West Bromwich Albion where Tony Pulis will make him his playmaker.

Cristian Benavente has starred under Zinedine Zidane's tutelage for Castilla and is wanted by West Brom

 

PEDRO OBIANG (Sampdoria) £4.4m

Tough and technically good central midfielder brought up in Atletico Madrid's academy prior to moving to Italy and now the 23-year-old is heading to West Ham United.

Tough and technically good central midfielder Pedro Obiang is heading to West Ham United this summer

 

SHINJI OKAZAKI (Mainz) £9m

Japan international striker has been a target for Leicester City since December and the 29-year-old looks increasingly likely to move to the Midlands after the club offered £8m.

Shinji Okazaki (left) has been a target for Leicester City since December and looks likely to move for £8m

 

FRANCK TABANOU (St Etienne) £3.5m

The French left back almost joined Swansea City in January but is pushing for the deal to be done now and all parties are inching towards an agreement for the 26-year-old.

Franck Tabanou (left) almost joined Swansea City in January but is pushing for the deal to be done now