Bruce Buck, the Chelsea chairman, outlined the club’s difficulty in signing a star player as they stepped up their pursuit of Franck Ribéry last night, in spite of Bayern Munich’s claim that they want £69 million for the France winger.

Chelsea have been frustrated in their search for an attacking player after refusing to match Manchester City’s offer for Carlos Tévez and the contractual demands of Sergio Agüero, the Atlético Madrid forward. Alexandre Pato, the forward, has claimed that he will stay at AC Milan.

“We are looking for a marquee name,” Buck said. “Most of the big clubs are chasing the same players. We are only going to get one of those top-notch players, and there aren’t very many of them. But we are looking and we are optimistic.”

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern chairman, has denied that the German club have received an offer from Real Madrid, Ribéry’s preferred destination. “One club has made an offer and it is not called Real Madrid,” Rummenigge said. “We are not aiming to force up the price. We want to keep him.”

Decent bets

Arsenal have moved closer to agreeing a deal to sign Blaise Matuidi, the midfield player, from Saint-Étienne.

Aston Villa will resist Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to sign John Carew, even as part of a possible swap deal involving Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley, both of whom are of interest to the Midlands club.

Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, is interested in Sylvain Distin, the Portsmouth defender, and is expected to sell Zat Knight, Nigel Reo-Coker and Nicky Shorey.

Almería, of Spain, have rejected Fulham’s £2.2 million bid for Kalu Uche, the forward. Wigan Athletic have bid about £1.5 million for Jason Scotland, the Swansea City striker. Albert Crusat, the Almería winger, says that his inability to speak English may affect a possible £4.5 million move to Wigan.

Real Madrid’s offer for Xabi Alonso, the midfield player, is well below Liverpool’s valuation of £35 million. “Liverpool have taken up a difficult stance,” Jorge Valdano, the Real director general, said.

Middlesbrough’s hopes of selling Stewart Downing this summer were boosted yesterday after the winger, who will have a pin removed from his injured foot in September, received a positive fitness bulletin ahead of schedule. Villa, Tottenham and Liverpool have been monitoring his progress.

Dead certs

Liverpool have signed Chris Mavinga, the 18-year-old defender, from Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal.

Queens Park Rangers have signed Alejandro Faurlin, the 22-year-old midfield player, from Instituto, of the Argentine second division, for up to £3.5 million, subject to him receiving a work permit.