Crespo exits, Drogba waits
Reports claim Chelsea have agreed a £24million valuation with the French club over Ivory Coast striker Drogba.
But there is still no confirmation from Stamford Bridge, where new coach Jose Mourinho has three strikers in Eidur Gudjohnsen, Adrian Mutu and latest arrival Mateja Kezman from PSV Eindhoven.
The former Porto manager is believed to have advised Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to call Marseilles' bluff over the £27m price- tag on Drogba, who hit 11 goals in the UEFA Cup last season as the French side knocked out Liverpool and Newcastle on the way to the final.
Marseilles, who bought Drogba for just £4m a year ago, are struggling financially but turned down an initial Chelsea offer of around £18m.
Chelsea's rich Russian owner has invested over £200m in the squad in the last year but will not want to buy any more expensive misfits.
Crespo, who scored 12 goals in just 21 starts last season after his £16.8m move from Inter Milan, has joined Inter's city rivals on a loan agreement that lasts until June 30 next year.
AC Milan announced the deal after Crespo was believed to have bowed to family pressure to return to Italy.
"The idea of returning to play in Italy gives me great pleasure," Crespo said after flying into Linate airport in Milan. Crespo also banished any doubts about his fitness but recognised that he would need to be at his best to earn a regular place with Andrei Shevchenko, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Filippo Inzaghi also on the books.
"To anyone who is worried about my fitness, I would say that I am in great shape," Crespo continued. "Of that there is no doubt."
In the end the South American decided he could not give 100% commitment to Chelsea.
Crespo is no stranger to Italian football having become one of the country's most feared strikers during spells at Lazio and Inter after starting with Parma. They sold him to Lazio for a then record £37.5m fee.
AC Milan supremo Adriano Galliani expressed reservations over bringing a top-class forward to the club - fearing it would destabilise the dressing room.
But coach Carlo Ancelotti, who worked with Crespo at Parma, has insisted he can incorporate him into his squad.
The Premier League look set to investigate Chelsea's loan deal with Aston Villa for striker Carlton Cole.
London rivals Charlton claimed it was part of the deal which took midfielder Scott Parker to Stamford Bridge for £10m in January that Cole would spend the coming season, as well as last, at The Valley.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are hoping to hijack Leicester's bid to sign striker David Connolly. The Black Cats tabled a bid for the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international on Monday as he underwent a medical at City after rekindling an interest stretching back to last summer.
City are understood to have offered £500,000 for the West Ham frontman, who is the subject of a tug of war after the Hammers accepted Sunderland's counter-bid and gave them permission to talk to a player whom manager Mick McCarthy knows well.
"David Connolly is a player we are very interested in," chairman Bob Murray said. "West Ham accepted our bid as it was a superior offer, and we are now in discussions with the player and his representative."
Sunderland completed their sixth summer signing, landing 22-year-old former Manchester United full-back Mark Lynch on a three-year deal.
UEFA have banned Switzerland's Alexander Frei for three international matches after he was found guilty of spitting at England's Steven Gerrard during a Euro 2004 match.
Frei spat at Gerrard in an off-the- ball incident during Switzerland's 3-0 defeat on June 17. It was not spotted by referee Valentin Ivanov.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
