Duff and Chelsea dig in

CHELSEA were last night locked in talks with Damien Duff over a potential club record transfer, with even the Republic of Ireland winger having admitted that the £17m fee is a “stupid price”.

However, reports claimed that Chelsea had cooled their interest in Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron due to his contract demands.

Duff arrived in London to hold talks with Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch after the Blues had triggered the release clause in his Blackburn contract on Wednesday with their fifth bid.

Given that Harry Kewell cost just £5m, albeit with only a year left on his contract, and that David Beckham went to Real Madrid for just £8m more, even Duff is shocked by the huge price-tag in a largely depressed transfer market.

“It is a stupid price with the way the game has gone. But at the end of the day, it is all about money with football directors,” said the 24-year-old midfielder.

Duff has not yet decided whether to actually move to Stamford Bridge, with Manchester United having previously attempted to sign him. His business adviser, Pat Devlin, said: “We are here and we’re very open-minded at this stage but, you know, football is a funny old game. Blackburn accepted the offer and, from Damien’s point of view, it’s nice to talk and see what’s on offer.”

That should amount to a lucrative wage packet of anything up to £70,000 a week, as well as the lure of Champions League football.

“Everyone wants to play in the Champions League. Just look at how much you can learn. Josh (fellow Irish international John O’Shea of Manchester United) has played 20-odd games in the Champions League and it has improved him enormously.”

That factor could swing his eventual decision, along with Chelsea’s obvious ambition in the wake of Roman Abramovich’s takeover.

If Chelsea can persuade Duff to move to Stamford Bridge, that would take their spending in the past fortnight to £30m, with West Ham’s Glen Johnson and Real Madrid’s Geremi already acquired.

Reports in Manchester have indicated Veron may not be joining them, with the Evening News claiming that the Argentinian’s apparent demand for £90,000 a week in wages had put them off after an initial inquiry.

Although Veron is now expected to take part in United’s tour to America, anything is still possible, with Chelsea expected to bring Wayne Bridge from Southampton. With Charlton’s Paul Konchesky already tipped as a potential replacement for Bridge at St Mary’s, Southampton were yesterday mulling over whether to accept Chelsea’s £7million bid.

Either way, with Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Roy Makaay, Adrian Mutu and Edgar Davids also linked with the Blues, the spending is not over yet.