Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are on the prowl for summer signings to help tip the balance in what could be the closest Premiership race for years.
Arsenal are in negotiations with Stuttgart about Belarus winger Alexander Hleb as manager Arsene Wenger tries to strengthen the right side of his midfield, but a deal is being held up by Stuttgart’s search for a coach to replace Matthias Sammer.
The Germans have to decide whether to give his successor a say in Hleb’s future. Hleb, who joined Stuttgart in 2000, has three years left on his contract.
Chelsea have had a £4-million bid for Kakha Kaladze rejected by AC Milan, who are believed to be demanding £8,5-million pounds for the Georgian left-back, who has one year left on his contract but has made clear his wish to move to Stamford Bridge.
The English champions have agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old, who is top of the wanted list ahead of Athletic Bilbao’s Asier del Horno.
French champions Lyon insist Michael Essien has signed an extension to his contract, but club sources say the Gahana midfielder, whom Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to link with Claude Makelele, is desperate to join the London club, reputedly the world’s biggest payers.
Lyon are expected to listen to a first Chelsea offer next week.
Chelsea’s Argentina pair Hernan Crespo and Juan Veron are set to stay in Italy. Chelsea are hopeful of gaining a fee from Milan for Crespo at the end of next season, as his contract still has three years to run, but they may cancel Veron’s contract after another year on loan at Inter.
Manchester have been told they cannot buy £14-million-rated Valencia winger Vicente, but are close to snapping up PSV Eindhoven’s South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung after making a £5-million bid.
Newly promoted West Ham are reported to be in talks with France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. The 34-year-old, banned for six months in France for spitting at a referee, is free to resume his playing career in another country.
And Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin is making a move for Newcastle’s French winger Laurent Robert. — Sapa-AFP