Chelsea keep fingers crossed on Shevchenko

CHELSEA will learn in the next 48 hours whether they will land AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko but may have to wait until after the World Cup to continue their pursuit of Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Shevchenko insists he will reveal his future plans tomorrow while Van Nistelrooy, linked with a £15million switch to Stamford Bridge, has decided to leave his options open until after the finals in Germany.

Ironically, the Chelsea player most likely to be used as part of the deal to lure Van Nistelrooy, Eidur Gudjohnsen, has been the subject of transfer interest from England and elsewhere in Europe.

Chelsea remain hopeful of landing Shevchenko despite reports suggesting the Italian club were guilty of tapping up Blues striker Didier Drogba.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon confirmed they were still in the hunt for Shevchenko as well as hinting at signing more younger players.

Kenyon said: “We have evolved to the stage where we are back-to-back champions and we should not underestimate what an achievement that is.

“It was felt what we wanted to do was bring in a different type of player. Michael Ballack fits that bill, the likes of a Shevchenko fit that bill. That type of player comes with an age and comes with an experience, probably outside the Premier League.

Drogba, who stated last week that he no longer liked playing in England, was told he would see out the remaining two years of his contract at Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho.

Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy is in no hurry to decide whether to remain at Old Trafford or move on.

The Holland striker’s future at United appears to be in doubt after and amazing fall-out with Alex Ferguson prior to the final Barclays Premiership game, against Charlton, earlier this month which led the United boss to order Van Nistelrooy out of the team hotel.

He also missed Roy Keane’s testimonial and that episode soured relations with Ferguson further.

When quizzed on Dutch tv whether he felt United wanted to be rid of him, the United striker replied: “You could have that feeling. I don’t have that feeling, it’s not that certain. No-one has said that to me so far.

“Nothing will be worked out before the World Cup.”

Gudjohnsen, the player likely to move in the opposite direction if Chelsea succeed with their pursuit of the Dutchman, is now the subject of much interest from clubs in Europe.

His father and agent Arnor Gudjohnsen said: “There are a few options for Eidur, but nothing concrete as yet. There is interest from Spain and England.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s German international Robert Huth, linked with a £4million move to Wigan, has admitted to being frustrated with life on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Huth said: “When you are almost always just a substitute it is physically and mentally a much more difficult situation than when you play a complete season.”