Bates blast agents after transfer Hassel ends

Chelsea chairman Ken Bates launched an attack on ‘‘desperate’’ agents for allegedly trying to unsettle his players as Barcelona looked set to abandon their interest in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Bates insists that he has been determined to hold onto his best players this summer, despite speculation linking William Gallas, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink with moves away from Stamford Bridge.

With the transfer deadline approaching on Saturday, Barcelona now seem to have called a halt to making any bid for Hasselbaink. Club president Joan Gaspart told Radio Barcelona: ‘‘I don’t think we will sign Hasselbaink.