CARLO ANCELOTTI anticipates Andriy Shevchenko leaving Chelsea before the end of the transfer window, though Didier Drogba has informed the manager that he will sign a new three-year contract on his return from the team’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Chelsea travelled to the US with seven recognised strikers in their 26-man party, including Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro who spent last season on loan at Milan and Werder Bremen respectively. Ancelotti indicated after the 2-0 victory against Seattle Sounders that he hopes to field two forwards in games in the season. With the young signing Daniel Sturridge having already impressed in training and on debut against the MLS side on Saturday, Ancelotti feels he boasts the firepower to unsettle opponents next term.
Given the options the manager already boasts, Shevchenko is expected to move on ahead of the new campaign. Dynamo Kiev and Fenerbahce have expressed interest in securing the Ukrainian, who has a year to run on his €150,000-a-week contract, with the club to hold talks with the forward on the team’s return to London.
“For now, Shevchenko works with the team and plays with the team,” said Ancelotti. “ But I don’t know what will happen as the club has not received any offers.”
Ancelotti intends to trim his squad ahead of the new season from the 27 who have featured in the US – Michael Ballack has returned home with a toe injury, while Yuri Zhirkov has linked up with the party – to a more manageable number, although those cuts will not include the winger Florent Malouda who has signed a new three-year contract.
“It would be better to have 23 players, but now I want to see them, people I don’t know very well,” he said. “There will be less players [at the start of the season], but 24 or 25 is not a problem.”
Confirmation that Drogba, a player revitalised by Guus Hiddink’s brief tenure last season, intends to remain at Stamford Bridge was anticipated, but will be welcomed by the management team nevertheless.
The Ivorian was admired by Ancelotti while he was at Milan and, when fit and focused, remains a potent weapon.
“Drogba is a very important player for us and we want him to play for Chelsea,” said Ancelotti. “I think he’s irreplaceable as no other striker in the world can do the same job. I’ve spoken with Drogba and know very well what he wants. I believe in Drogba and told him this. He told me he’s happy to stay.”
There is an assumption that Drogba and Nicolas Anelka will be the first-choice forwards under the Italian, though Sturridge has already shown flashes to justify Chelsea’s efforts in prising him away from Manchester City, much to Mark Hughes’ frustration.
The fee for the striker has still to be decided by a transfer tribunal – City are seeking up to €12 million for a player they nurtured in their youth academy – but Ancelotti already considers him in his senior-team plans for the season ahead.
“He’s a young player and has good quality and we expect him to have a very good season,” added Ancelotti, who will also see Mikel John Obi, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole sign new contracts before the start of the season.
“He’s [Sturridge] started very well. To score a goal in the first game [against the Sounders] and that’s good for us and good for him.
“He will improve and has to improve. He has a lot of quality as a striker who is quick and intelligent with his movement for others – I like that. It’s important that he improves, but he’s a good striker for Chelsea and will be in the first-team [squad] this season.”
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Terry ‘focused’
CARLO Ancelotti believes John Terry's future at Chelsea will be resolved within "one week", reflecting the club's conviction he will remain at Stamford Bridge despite interest from Manchester City. Terry has refused to comment publicly since City had a €35 million bid rejected this month and that silence has fuelled speculation, reports Dominic Fifield.
The centre-half is likely to start this evening's game against Internazionale in Pasadena, with Ancelotti claiming the matter has not proved disruptive. "For John it is not a distraction because he is very concentrated and focused.
"In one week, nobody will have a problem about John Terry. John wants to stay in Chelsea and Chelsea want John Terry to be captain for more years. It is normal [other clubs would be interested in him] because he is a great player . . . But he will stay in the same team because he is a captain for Chelsea. It is impossible to sell Terry."
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