Chelsea’s Ivanovic Is Pursued by Real, Guardian Says: Roundup

The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers with clickable links to the Web.

Chelsea Defender

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic said Real Madrid is interested in signing him, the Guardian reported.

Ivanovic, 28, is under contract until 2016 and said he is “very happy” at Stamford Bridge even after losing his place to Gary Cahill for the Champions League final, the newspaper said.

Martinez Money

Wigan owner Dave Whelan is investing in the team in an effort to keep coach Roberto Martinez, who is a target for Liverpool and Aston Villa, the Daily Mirror reported.

Whelan is responding to the Spaniard’s year-old request for 16 million pounds ($25.1 million) to make transfer acquisitions, upgrade training facilities and improve contracts for his staff, according to the Mirror.

Man. United Twins

Blackburn coach Steve Kean wants to sign Manchester United twins Will and Michael Keane on loan to play in the Championship, the Daily Mirror reported.

Kean watched the striker and center half play for the England Under-19 team at the weekend, the Mirror said.

Roy Goes to Rio

England coach Roy Hodgson is mulling whether to pick Rio de Janeiro or Belo Horizonte as the team’s 2014 World Cup base, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Hodgson will travel to Brazil after the European Championship to make a decision, the Telegraph said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Duff in Madrid at aduff4@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at at celser@bloomberg.net