Gudjohnsen could quit over pay dispute

Eidur Gudjohnsen’s agent has warned Chelsea that the striker could quit the club over a simmering pay dispute.

The 23-year-old Icelandic international came of age last season as he formed a prolific forward partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

But Gudjohnsen’s representative Peter Harrison told PA Sport he wants an urgent second round of talks with Blues chief executive Trevor Birch to substantially bump up Gudjohnsen’s pay packet for the remaining three years of his five-year contract.

Amid reports of Blackburn’s interest in the player who joined Chelsea from Bolton two years ago, Harrison said: “I had talks with Trevor Birch last week about renegotiating Eidur’s contract.

“He’s had two good seasons at Chelsea and I need to speak to Trevor again as Eidur should get a pay rise.

“I’m not putting a gun to their heads, but if he doesn’t get a rise, we’ll have to assess his situation.

“And I don’t know if he’ll get a rise as it’s difficult for Chelsea financially.

“But I’ve got to look after my client. If he moves, it has to be the right move. I don’t know if the stories about Blackburn are true or not.

“Eidur’s proved he’s a top-class striker and his performances in the Premiership have alerted English and foreign clubs.

“Different clubs in England are interested and I’ve been contacted by various clubs abroad, although there’s not a lot of money about in Europe.”

Gudjohnsen’s looming second salary meeting is the latest concern for Chelsea, whose close season has already been hit by revelations of a £97m (€153m) debt and failed transfer swoops for Real Madrid duo Flavio Conceicao and Geremi.

And midfielder Sam Dalla Bona, who left Stamford Bridge for AC Milan in a £1m (€1.6m) deal a fortnight ago, warned on Sunday that his old club could “fall apart” due to money worries this season.

Harrison has now warned one of the true stars of last season’s campaign could walk away from the club.

But Blues chairman Ken Bates remained as defiant as ever today, telling the London Evening Standard: “We are, as a matter of policy, refusing to make any comment as a club about the finances. Neither will we talk about individual players.”