Shevchenko keeps Blues sweating
The 29-year-old has been offered a contract extension until 2011, but the Blues have long been admirers of the Ukrainian and are ready to try to lure him to England in a multi-million deal, with chief executive Peter Kenyon admitting on Tuesday he was still hopeful of landing the striker.
Shevchenko was scheduled for a meeting with AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani yesterday.
However, the striker spent several hours at the Italian club’s training facility for treatment on his injured knee, and emerged to tell reporters he had still to speak with club bosses.
Shevchenko said: “I cannot say anything yet – first I have to speak to Galliani. I will not meet Galliani today – perhaps tomorrow and maybe in the evening.
It would seem Stamford Bridge is the preferred destination of Shevchenko, who has been at the Italian club for seven years.
With German captain Michael Ballack already on board for next season, boss Jose Mourinho shows he has every intention of making the Premiership champions even stronger.
But given the further additions to the squad likely to arrive before and after the World Cup – which could yet include Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos from Real Madrid, it seems inevitable some of the current players will have to be off-loaded.
Mourinho made it clear last week that the club were willing to listen to offers for Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen – and the 27-year-old has since been linked with a move to both Manchester United as well as Barcelona.
German international defender Robert Huth, 21, is reportedly on the verge of a £5million move to Wigan, while the futures of reserve striker Carlton Cole and one-time England right-back Glen Johnson also appear to live away from Stamford Bridge.
Chief executive Kenyon, though, has hinted Chelsea are also keen to invest in youth, and are understood to be close to securing the services of Nigerian prodigy John Obi Mikel.
The 18-year-old’s career has been on hold while legal wranglings decide whether the contract he had with Norwegian club Lyn Oslo last year is valid.
At the heart of the matter are contracts Mikel signed to join Manchester United, which he has subsequently claimed he was bullied into agreeing by the Red Devils.
Mikel is desperate to resume his career with Chelsea, whom United have accused of hijacking the deal before contacting FIFA over disciplinary action.
However, with compensation now said to be agreed between the two rival Premiership clubs, Mikel looks set to agree a three-year deal with the west-London club.
And it also seems as if Argentina striker Hernan Crespo could yet agree a contract extension with Chelsea.
The 30-year-old enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season after returning from his loan spell with AC Milan, scoring 13 goals.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to examine whether they can increase capacity at Stamford Bridge, which currently stands at 42,360.
The club are somewhat constricted by the constraints of the surrounding area, which – as with many older inner-city stadia – is mainly residential.
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