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.