Chelsea spending spree to continue

CHELSEA chief executive Trevor Birch indicated that the Blues’ spending spree has not stopped yet, as they continued to target the cream of Europe’s midfield and attacking talent.

Although Alex Ferguson has insisted Juan Sebastian Veron is staying at Manchester United, the Argentina international’s agent has claimed to be in talks at Stamford Bridge over a £15m move for the past two days.

Veron is himself still in the United States, preparing to play in United’s friendly against Juventus tomorrow night, and no deal can be concluded until his return.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is nevertheless understood to remain keen on the United midfielder, even if he may have to drop his wage demands to go to Stamford Bridge.

Veron is not Chelsea’s only target as owner Roman Abramovich seeks to bring another top-class midfielder and striker to the club.

Birch, who is in charge of negotiations, said: “We were pursuing one plan but, obviously, the arrival of Mr Abramovich has allowed us to pursue another plan and long may it continue. It’s a terribly exciting time.”

Asked about the existing club record £17m deal for Damien Duff, Birch told Chelsea TV: “The more people you talk to, they all tell you what a good buy he has been.

“Claudio has been interested in him for some time but, obviously, we didn’t have the wherewithal at that stage. But he was then one of our top priorities.”

It seems likely that Chelsea could soon break that record deal, given their interest in Brazil captain Emerson, for whom Roma claim to have rejected a £17.5m bid, but also Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele and now Mark van Bommel.

PSV spokesman Pedro Salazar denied that Chelsea had made an official bid of around £10m for the 26-year-old club captain but said that talk of van Bommel leaving the club was not new to him.

Speculation will inevitably continue over Chelsea’s real targets, with bids also said to have been made for Raul, Christian Vieri and now Real Mallorca’s Samuel Eto’o.

The Cameroon international was reported to be interested in a move to the Barclaycard Premiership, but Mallorca club president Mateu Alemany has played down any links with Chelsea over a £10m move.