Chelsea look set to win the race to sign Bolton defender
Tal Ben Haim.
The 25-year-old is out of contract at The Reebok Stadium and has a
host of top clubs tracking him.
His former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has already confirmed his
interest in luring him to St James' Park, but Chelsea now look to
be leading the chase.
The Blues almost signed Ben Haim in January - but they could not
agree terms with Bolton, but they now look set to succeed in
landing him on a Bosman transfer.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has been quoted, confirming
Ben Haim's arrival.
"Ben Haim will arrive, we will discuss his contract and finalise
the last details and we hope that he will sign the contract by
tomorrow [Thursday]," Kenyon is quoted in the Guardian.
Chelsea have been working steadily at bolstering their squad, but
have been shedding their tag of 'big spenders' as all their new
arrivals have cost them nothing with Steve Sidwell and Claudio
Pizarro both joining on free transfers.
Should Ben Haim sign then he is also likely to be joined by Alex,
whom the club already all but own, from PSV Eindhoven.
Another player said to be interesting Jose Mourinho again, is
Hertha Berlin's Marko Pantelic.
The Serbian striker, 28, could be landed for less than £3million -
but a modest Pantelic is not shocked by Chelsea's interest.
"I am not surprised Chelsea are interested in me," he said.
"I have proved, both at Hertha Berlin and with the Serbia national
team, that I can play at a high level and am good enough for
top-tier clubs.
"The knowledge that Mourinho wants me is flattering."
