CHELSEA signalled the start of a £50million spree by
agreeing an £8.9m deal for Serbian star Branislav Ivanovic. The
Lokomotiv Moscow centre-half flies into London this week to sign
after the Blues saw off interest from Manchester United and
Juventus. Chelsea boss Avram Grant made his move to clinch the
first major deal of the January sales after getting the go-ahead
from Roman Abramovich.
Now he wants to sign two strikers with Boltons Nicolas Anelka
and Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham in his sights plus a right-back
and a midfielder. Ivanovic, 23, had been expected to link up with
his Serbian defensive partner Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford but
United baulked at Lokomotivs asking price. But Grant decided he
could not afford to quibble after flying to Moscow in October to
make a personal check on the player.
Ivanovic will be followed to London by Bolton striker Anelka. The
French ace is poised to complete a £10m move, as revealed by
SunSport last month. Anelka, 28, said: The chairmen of Bolton and
Chelsea are discussing a transfer and I hope it happens. I want to
go to a bigger club.
Grant is also weighing up a £26m bid for Berbatov.