Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants a £100 million shopping list drawn up by Guus Hiddink.
The Daily Express says Abramovich is set to spend – despite denials all season by the club – aware that an ageing squad is in urgent need of reinforcement to enable them to compete with Manchester United, Liverpool, big-spending new boys Manchester City, and Arsenal.
On the list are CSKA Moscow and Russia winger Yuri Zhirkov, another CSKA ace in Brazilian Wagner Love, Lyon striker Karim Benzema, Barcelona defender Dani Alves – and the man Abramovich tried and failed to bring in last summer, Manchester City’s £33m Brazilian star Robinho.
That list will cost Abramovich more than £100m if he manages to land them all but, he will fund the recruiting drive by also having a mass summer clear-out at Chelsea.
Among those on the list to leave Stamford Bridge are Michael Ballack, Deco, Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferreira, Mineiro and Branislav Ivanovic.