Kenyon insist Sheva was value for
money.
After 18 months of bitter in-fighting, Chelsea's Cobham
training base was a picture of harmony yesterday. Manager Luiz
Felipe Scolari exuded bonhomie while chief executive Peter Kenyon
declared Deco to be the 'buy of the season' and promised more Latin
brilliance would soon be on its way to Stamford Bridge in the shape
of £26million striker Robinho.
Kenyon was unveiling the club's Corporate Social Responsibility
Report, which catalogues the good causes supported at home and
abroad to the tune of £4.39m during the 2006-07 season.
The mood was so upbeat Chelsea even tried to insist the £30m
spent on Andriy Shevchenko - not to mention his six-figure weekly
wage - had been a sound investment.
Their reasoning is that Shevchenko was nearly 30 when he arrived
and they had accounted for a steep drop in his transfer value; that
the team enjoyed two successful years with him in the squad;
(FA & Carling Cup) and that he has only gone on loan
to AC Milan, so may yet command a transfer fee.
'Yes, I do, I do,' said Kenyon, when asked if he thought
Shevchenko had been good value for money (no sniggering at the
back, please).
'You have to look at these things pragmatically, sometimes these
things don't work as well as you want. Remember, we got Deco for
£8m and that looks to be the buy of the season. You have to counter
these things and we're happy with where we are.'
Kenyon was cagey about Chelsea's pursuit of AC Milan's Kaka but
Robinho, 24, is expected to sign a five-year deal after a £26m fee
was agreed with Real Madrid.
The Brazilian must complete the transfer before 5pm tomorrow if
he is to be available against Spurs on Sunday. He meets the work
permit criteria but the Spanish FA have been slow with their
international clearance, which frustrated Newcastle when they
signed Jonas Gutierrez from Real Mallorca.
Kenyon said: 'I'm confident we'll get it done and Robinho is
committed to wanting to come. Scolari is confident about the
player's ability and mentality, that he will fit in and make an
impact.