
Russia's star player in the Euro 2008 Championship, Andrei Arshavin, is expected to fly to London today to hold talks with Chelsea about a possible £12 million move.
Barcelona have had a similar bid accepted, and had been thought to be Arshavin's preferred destination. But Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has identified his 27-year-old compatriot as one of the London club’s top summer transfer targets.
Former Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho has questioned Arshavin’s maturity and consistency but Abramovich appears to have no such concerns and is expected to be present at negotiations.
A deal for the 27-year-old could be tied up by as early as this weekend but Chelsea’s summer spending is unlikely to end there, with new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari keen to add Brazil striker Robinho to the already confirmed signings of Portugal stars Jose Bosingwa and Deco for a combined fee of over £24m.
Chelsea are prepared to pay Real Madrid £27m for Robinho — £8m short of the asking price set by the Spanish champions. However, reports in Spain claim that such is Robinho’s anger at being offered as a makeweight in a deal to take Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu, he may be tempted to use FIFA regulations to buy out the remaining two years of his contract for just £10m.
Another option apparently being considered by Real is a swap deal involving Robinho and Didier Drogba, with Scolari understood to be ready to offload the Ivory Coast striker, who also interests AC Milan.
Sources in Russia suggest Arshavin’s family are trying to talk him into a move to the Barclays Premier League with his mother Tatyana and wife Yulia both said to believe it would be easier for him and his two children to settle in England rather than Spain.
Wah.....chelsea start their shopping already......dun know can win or not this time...last time so many start players also cannot win....
They already started their shopping long ago liao with Jose Bosingwa and recently Deco...
I just wonder, one question to Chelsea fans... This Arshavin if he join them, will be seen as a Roman buy or a Scolari buy?
Is he good for Chelsea?
One thing that is for sure is many top sides are also after him... Like Arsenal, Inter, Barce... So if he is a success, Scolari gets the credit and if he fail, Roman get the blame again?
Cos I remember when Roman first sign Shevchenko, many chelsea fans were pleased and very happy to some extent even Jose was quoted as saying...
"Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.
but when he flop, they blame Roman and not Mourinho... Will history repeat itself?
If Arshavin flop, will chelsea fans blame Roman again or Scolari this time?
I wonder how is Arshavin going to fit in ... if they play Deco in the starting 11
Play as Striker lor...
as a chelsea fan.. i don't think he can suit in chelsea play.. and roman stop freaking buy players against the coach will..
its risky signing players just because of a tournament. before that he was virtually unheard of.
Ya i agree also... Last time United signed a Karel Poborsky after the Euro 96 where he had a good tournament then he turn out to be an average player also...
Originally posted by zocoss:Ya i agree also... Last time United signed a Karel Poborsky after the Euro 96 where he had a good tournament then he turn out to be an average player also...
Poborsky is a good player. It just that SAF don't know how to use him. He was outstanding at Lazio and other clubs...
Abramovich will just sign any good russian player.. The connection of Russian or former soviet union bloc is a fetish to him...
Forlan is just like another Poborsky..SAF just dunno how to utilise and optimize his role..
Originally posted by Fs4751:Wah.....chelsea start their shopping already......dun know can win or not this time...last time so many start players also cannot win....
last time, Chelsea had an unexperienced bad coach (which was appointed based on the owner's favour).
a team cannot win with things changing: managers moving on, new manager, etc.
Originally posted by zocoss:They already started their shopping long ago liao with Jose Bosingwa and recently Deco...
I just wonder, one question to Chelsea fans... This Arshavin if he join them, will be seen as a Roman buy or a Scolari buy?
Is he good for Chelsea?
One thing that is for sure is many top sides are also after him... Like Arsenal, Inter, Barce... So if he is a success, Scolari gets the credit and if he fail, Roman get the blame again?
Cos I remember when Roman first sign Shevchenko, many chelsea fans were pleased and very happy to some extent even Jose was quoted as saying...
"Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.
but when he flop, they blame Roman and not Mourinho... Will history repeat itself?
If Arshavin flop, will chelsea fans blame Roman again or Scolari this time?
well, the russian connection helps when competing with other clubs to sign a player. even if its a roman buy, its a hell of a buy!
and based on his EURO performance and club performance, i can say Arshavin is a good player. New, raw talent.
and who cares whose buy issit, if theres trophies, everyones happy! thats a way of life man, you have to go through supporting a losing team in losing season without trophies to know whats it like to be in Chelsea's shoes.
Originally posted by CannyOng:
Poborsky is a good player. It just that SAF don't know how to use him. He was outstanding at Lazio and other clubs...
Poborsky was indeed an above average player but he was unfortunate that he came at a time when David Beckham's career started to take off... Beck was definitely a better player than Poborsky.
Originally posted by ~b1RD_m4N~:well, the russian connection helps when competing with other clubs to sign a player. even if its a roman buy, its a hell of a buy!
and based on his EURO performance and club performance, i can say Arshavin is a good player. New, raw talent.
and who cares whose buy issit, if theres trophies, everyones happy! thats a way of life man, you have to go through supporting a losing team in losing season without trophies to know whats it like to be in Chelsea's shoes.
Precisely thats my point... who should care who buy the players correct? The player mentioned was a world class player, but when the team didn't win... The fans, or i will say most Chelsea fans laid the blame on Roman and not on Mourinho who was the team coach... But if they won, the coach gets the credit...
The question is, Isn't it a coach job to manage whatever players he have in a team? Like now Jose take over Inter... He has to make do with most of the players that are already there right?
So why does most Chelsea fans still blame Roman? Is it just because they love the other guy more?

Arshavin : WTF ! from £12m to £20m?
Chelsea have been frustrated in their attempts to complete the capture of Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin after the Russian club blocked contract talks in London. Arshavin was due to in the capital to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and club officials.
Instead, he was called in for training by Zenit even though manager Dick Advocaat confirmed he will not take part in tomorrow's home match against Tomsk. Indeed, Advocaat admitted Arshavin will not feature for Zenit until his future is sorted out, with Barcelona challenging Chelsea for his signature.
Arshavin is understood to favour a move to Stamford Bridge over the Nou Camp while Abramovich is determined to sign his countryman. But it seems Zenit are not prepared to give in without a fight and have consequently moved the goalposts on his transfer fee despite both Chelsea and Barca believing they had agreements in place.
His performances in Euro 2008 for Russia have prompted Zenit to up the ante to the tune of £20m – although Arshavin himself was of the understanding that he was free to talk to interested parties willing to pay £12m.
Despite Zenit's hard-line stance, Arshavin will not be swayed from his desire to leave this summer with even the UEFA Cup holders offer of an improvement on his £60,000-a-week wages not enough to convince the 27-year-old to change his mind.
Originally posted by zocoss:
Chelsea frustrated as Zenit block Arshavin transfer talks and hike asking price from £12m to £20m.
Arshavin : WTF ! from £12m to £20m?
Chelsea have been frustrated in their attempts to complete the capture of Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin after the Russian club blocked contract talks in London. Arshavin was due to in the capital to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and club officials.
Instead, he was called in for training by Zenit even though manager Dick Advocaat confirmed he will not take part in tomorrow's home match against Tomsk. Indeed, Advocaat admitted Arshavin will not feature for Zenit until his future is sorted out, with Barcelona challenging Chelsea for his signature.
Arshavin is understood to favour a move to Stamford Bridge over the Nou Camp while Abramovich is determined to sign his countryman. But it seems Zenit are not prepared to give in without a fight and have consequently moved the goalposts on his transfer fee despite both Chelsea and Barca believing they had agreements in place.
His performances in Euro 2008 for Russia have prompted Zenit to up the ante to the tune of £20m – although Arshavin himself was of the understanding that he was free to talk to interested parties willing to pay £12m.
Despite Zenit's hard-line stance, Arshavin will not be swayed from his desire to leave this summer with even the UEFA Cup holders offer of an improvement on his £60,000-a-week wages not enough to convince the 27-year-old to change his mind.
lol..