Chelsea: Chelsea...

New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that a decision on Hernan Crespo's future at the club will be decided in the next few days.

The Argentine striker's future at Stamford Bridge has been in doubt for some time, with the player said to be keen on a return to Italy with Milan.

Crespo returned to training late, but he has reportedly impressed Mourinho with his application and the Portuguese tactician is pondering whether to keep the striker on the books.

The decision is set to be made this week and Marseille are likely to monitor the situation closely - as a move for Crespo could well see Mourinho head to Stade Velodrome and attempt to prise Didier Drogba away from l'OM.

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Sevilla manager Joaquin Caparros is to hold face-to-face talks with transfer target Jesper Gronkjaer on Tuesday to judge the Danish winger's hunger for a move to southern Spain.

The 26-year-old Chelsea player, who is also wanted by Birmingham City, will travel to Isla Canela on the Spanish south coast where the Sevilla squad are at a training camp.

Chelsea have signed striker Mateja Kezman from PSV Eindhoven after the Serbian was granted a work permit.

Kezman completed his move, believed to be for a fee of around 5million, and joined Russian Alexei Smertin in training on Monday.

Smertin has been out on loan at Portsmouth but returned to Stamford Bridge in time to greet new arrival Kezman.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has travelled to Marseille to discuss the 26m transfer of striker Didier Drogba.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who has been unimpressed by Hernan Crespo's late arrival for pre-season training, is known to be a fan of Drogba.

Marseille are reported to have turned down an 18million bid from Chelsea for striker Didier Drogba.

The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international, whose contract at the Stade Velodrome runs until 2008, is known to be a target of new Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho although it was believed a deal would depend on the future of Hernan Crespo.

Chelsea's new hard-line head coach Jose Mourinho may be ready to call Marseilles' bluff over striker Didier Drogba by advising Stamford Bridge supremo Roman Abramovich to present the French club with a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum.

Chelsea have so far offered just over 18million for the Ivory Coast striker who is being tagged "the new Thierry Henry" in France.

Hard-up Marseilles, who paid just over 4million for the player a year ago, have rejected that bid and put a new valuation of 27 million on Drogba - believing that Russian oil billionaire Abramovich will eventually reach down into his deep pockets for the asking price.

Chelsea's Argentina striker Hernan Crespo has sealed a season-long loan move to Italian champions AC Milan, leaving the way clear for the Blues to stage a price-war in their bid to buy Didier Drogba from Marseilles.

Some reports claim Chelsea have already agreed a 24million valuation with the French club over Ivory Coast striker Drogba.

But there is still no confirmation of that from Stamford Bridge where new coach Jose Mourinho has three top-line strikers in Eidur Gudjohnsen, Adrian Mutu and latest arrival Mateja Kezman, the Serbia international from PSV Eindhoven.

Chelsea are on the verge of signing Benfica midfielder Tiago.

The 23-year-old Portuguese international, part of the national squad at Euro 2004, had originally been priced by his club at 10 million.

But Benfica are believed to have since dropped that price tag and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is confident the deal will go through.

Chelsea have until next Wednesday to complete the signings of Didier Drogba and Tiago Mendes - or manager Jose Mourinho will conclude his interest in the duo.

The London club depart for their summer tour on July 21 and Mourinho wants to have his squad in place before leaving for the United States where games have been scheduled against Celtic, Roma and AC Milan.

Reports of Mourinho's interest in Drogba first emerged last week but Marseille want 25million for the Ivory Coast striker but Chelsea insist they will not pay over the odds, despite owner Roman Abramovich's vast wealth.

Marseille have confirmed that Didier Drogba is now more likely to begin the new season with Chelsea rather than at the Stade Velodrome.

They expect to make an announcement on the Ivory Coast striker's future before the middle of the week, with reports in France indicating that Drogba's future could even be decided on Sunday.

Chelsea need good strikers. FIFA has imposed that no matches shall end in draws. Penalties will be a major deciding factor in next seasons premiership winner.

These people that Chelsea are signing are not goal scorers, and that is the main problem. I saw some matches with Ranieri behind the helm with Chelsea, and the only person producing the goals was John Terry and Hasselbaink. The game seemed to revolve around them. Gudjonsen isn't much of a striker in that he misses the net most of the time and should be traded if Chelsea stand a speck of a chance against Arsenal.

Didier Drogba is not a goal scorer? Man, you obviously haven't been watching the same guy I was watching last season, the guy is amazing. I would've had him in a shot, much more than Cisse.

Gudjohnsen is not a goalscorer?

What i have seen of him he has a great eye for goal. He has just signed a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge. So Chelsea put there faith in him. With new signing Drogba they will form a awesome partnership that is going to scare the hell out of Premiership sides in the new season.

JOSE MOURINHO has made England defender John Terry Chelsea's new captain for next season.

The Portuguese manager was looking for an Englishman to replace Frenchman Marcel Desailly and he has gone for Terry, with Frank Lampard as his vice-captain.

Mourinho made his decision after talking to all his players. Terry emerged as the almost unanimous choice.

Now that I agree with. John Terry was the best player in last seasons premiership. He was also a stand out player at the euro's.

Originally posted by websurfer
He was also a stand out player at the euro's.

No he wasn't, he was a shadow of his former self and just about got the job done. Definately not "stand out".

Terry was damm good for Chelsea last season. I thought he had one of his best seasons.

As for the Euro's he was injured going in to them and in the first game Ledley King played instead of him and was fantastic. They brought Terry back in the side and i thought he wasn't that good. He was limping in the first game he played for England.

Chelsea's Mateja Kezman is likely to miss the start of the season because of his red card against Roma, the Football Association has confirmed.

Kezman was dismissed in the Champions World Series win over Roma after clashing with Olivier Dacourt.

Chelsea winger Damien Duff has ruled out a move to Liverpool and confirmed his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The Irish winger has been linked with a move back to the north-west after Chelsea signed Arjen Robben to compete with Duff for the left-wing spot.

Juventus are closing in on the capture of Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu, after submitting an offer for the Romania international.

Mutu has demanded showdown talks with new Blues boss Jose Mourinho regarding his future at Stamford Bridge.

Following the summer arrivals of Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman, Mutu is concerned about his prospects of regular first team football.

It appears he has not been convinced he has a prominent role to play for The Premiership's big-spenders and is set to return to Serie A.

The Turin giants have put together a package to bring the 25-year-old back to Italy after just one season in West London.