Zhirkov, nicknamed ‘Russia’s Ronaldinho’
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe
Scolari is ready to turn to CSKA Moscow’s Yuri Zhirkov after last
night agreeing to sell defender Wayne Bridge to
Manchester City for
$12million.
Full back Bridge is due at the City of Manchester Stadium on
Friday to thrash out personal terms, thus ending what has been a
largely frustrating five-and-a-half-year stay at Stamford
Bridge.
When the deal - revealed by Sportsmail on Thursday - is
finalised, Scolari will be given money to spend. And he sees
Zhirkov, nicknamed ‘Russia’s Ronaldinho’, as a versatile
replacement for a player he has been reluctant to see leave.
While the 25-year-old Russia international has played at left
back, therefore providing cover on the rare occasions that Ashley
Cole is unavailable, he has earned far more recognition as an
attacking winger with an impressive combination of pace and
dribbling ability.
Scolari thinks he will offer Chelsea something different.
A winner of the UEFA Cup with CSKA in 2005, Zhirkov was also
credited by UEFA with scoring the goal of the 2006-2007 Champions
League when he chipped the ball over two opponents, dribbled from
the half-way line and then beat the Hamburg goalkeeper.
According to his agent last month, Zhirkov has also attracted
the attention of Barcelona and Juventus but former links between
CSKA and Roman Abramovich are expected to give Scolari an
advantage.
Chelsea are likely to be without Alex and Florent Malouda
against Southend in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Both
players suffered hamstring injuries in the draw with Fulham last
Sunday.
Wayne Bridge is set to join the richer Blues