Madrid in Robben Talks

Real Madrid last night said they have opened talks with Chelsea in an attempt to sign the winger Arjen Robben. The Spanish club's president, Ramon Calderón, said he was optimistic the Dutchman will be at the Bernabéu next season.

Chelsea denied any contact had been made by Real but Calderón said: "We are in talks with Chelsea and the player. They are at an early stage but we hope to sign him. We do not know for sure how this will end up but it does appear that there is a good chance of signing him."

If the 23-year-old does sign for Madrid, it will mark the end of a long - and often embarrassing - courtship for Calderón. He promised to sign Robben, Cesc Fábregas and Kaka during last summer's elections to the Madrid presidency. No sooner had he won, however, than all three possibilities faltered. "Robben was one of my election pledges when I was running for the presidency last year," Calderón said last night, "and that is still the case."

Although the targets have not changed in the ensuing 12 months, Calderón is adamant the outcome will. He believes Madrid's position has improved. Whereas Chelsea threatened action over an alleged tapping-up of Robben last summer, Madrid claim to have contacted the London club first this time. Madrid also believe the fact that Robben is yet to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge strengthens their position. Talks with Robben's father and agent, Hans, have left Madrid convinced the player's difficult relationship with Jose Mourinho and the limited amount of football he played last year work to their advantage, too.

Madrid will also renew their attempts to sign Fábregas in the hope that Arsène Wenger's potential departure from Arsenal could precipitate a mass exodus. They were heartened by Fábregas admitting this week: "My future is tied to Wenger."

Calderón has said he will make another attempt to sign Kaka from Milan although, suitably chastened, he was making no promises. "We are waiting with open arms for Kaka," Calderón said.

The France midfielder Franck Ribéry and the Germany striker Miroslav Klose will join Bayern Munich from Marseille and Werder Bremen respectively. Ribery cost €26m (£17.6m) with a further €4m to be paid if Bayern qualify for the Champions League.

The Southampton defender Chris Baird could be on the verge of a move to Fulham after handing in a transfer request at St Mary's. The 25-year-old was the subject of a bid - believed to be £2.5m - from Fulham last week which was dismissed as "derisory" by Saints.

The Liverpool goalkeeper José Reina has signed a new Liverpool contract that will keep him at the club until 2012.