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Chelsea look to Yuri Zhirkov on Guus Hiddink's recommendation
Chelsea will move to bring Russian international forward Yuri Zhirkov
to Stamford Bridge in the summer after temporary manager Guus Hiddink
recommended the player to the club's owner Roman Abramovich.
By Steve Wilson
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Highly recommended: Yuri Zhirkov is a Chelsea
target after temporary manager Guus Hiddink advised Roman Abramovich
to sign the Russian Photo: GETTY IMAGES
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Zhirkov has become the focal point of Hiddink's Russia side
and is highly rated by the Dutchman, who will continue his duties as national
team manager in tandem with his responsibilities with Chelsea.
The CSKA playmaker, 25, is likely to cost Chelsea in the region of £15
million, according to a report in the Sun newspaper.
Zhirkov impressed during CSKA's recent Uefa Cup double header with Aston
Villa and Abramovich, who has cut back his spending at Chelsea since the
global economic downturn took hold, is willing to release the funds necessary
to sign him.
CSKA's manager, Brazilian legend Zico, is in no doubt Zhirkov would be
an instant success in English football, should the deal go through as
expected.
'Zhirkov is a player of such high level, he would only show his potential
playing in such a strong competition as the English Premier League,' said
Zico.
'He'd easily fit into Chelsea's first-choice team. I don't like to lose
him but I won't stop his move to London.'
Should Zhirkov move to west London, the Russian side would likely use
some of the transfer fee to replace him with Everton's Steven Pienaar.
CSKA believe a deal could be struck with Everton for the South African
for a fee of around £8 million and would offer Pienaar a £3
million-a-year contract, vastly improving the wages he is currently on
at Goodison Park.
Telegraph.co.uk,
12 Mar 2009
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