Chelsea try to steal Mexes from Roma

CHELSEA have made a last-minute bid to snatch Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes away from Serie A club Roma.

Mexes, 22, has agreed a four-year contract with Roma after snubbing both Chelsea and Manchester United.

Mexes’s agent Olivier Jouanneaux said: “Both Chelsea and Manchester United came in for Philippe.”

Auxerre would prefer Mexes to go to England as they would receive a bigger fee, so Jouanneaux has now gone to Fifa to ensure the defender moves to Roma. And veteran Auxerre boss Guy Roux said that Mexes turned down a move to Old Trafford because he was afraid he would not play every game.

“United made us an offer but Mexes's agent refused it on his behalf,” Roux stated. “It seems he was afraid that Phillipe would not play there.”

Mexes has won six caps for France but the French defender just missed out on making Jacques Santini's final Euro 2004 squad.