ENGLISH FA PREMIERSHIP: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has made his first move of the January transfer-window period, by spending £3million on prising Czech international midfielder Jiri Jarosik from CSKA Moscow, the Russian club in which Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has an interest.

Jarosik, who was originally wanted on a loan deal by Mourinho, has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract and goes straight into the squad for the FA Cup third-round tie against League Two side Scunthorpe tomorrow.

The Czech international was once the most expensive player to join a Russian club when he left Sparta Prague, where he was a team-mate of current Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, for CSKA in January 2003.

"Jose Mourinho explained the situation in Chelsea to me and said I will certainly be given my chance," said Jarosik.

"He said he had chosen me because he needed a midfielder, who is not too young or too old. I am an offensive midfielder, but I can play anywhere in midfield. I have even played centre-half."

Jarosik will not be able to take part in the Champions League having already played in the competition for CSKA, when Abramovich's ties to both Chelsea and the Russian club were brought into question but then ruled immaterial by UEFA when the sides met in Group H.

Jarosik's agent Viktor Kolar likened his client to Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira, and emphasised Jarosik's extensive Champions League experience, his 6ft 4in frame and his versatility.

He said: "He's a versatile player who can play in midfield or attack - he's very tall, very similar to Patrick Vieira."

Jarosik, capped 20 times by his country, missed the CSKA game at Chelsea with injury but was in the line-up in Moscow.

Elsewhere, Noe Pamarot is set to become Harry Redknapp's third signing from Tottenham during the transfer window, following Jamie Redknapp and Calum Davenport, as the Southampton manager looks to strengthen his side for their fight against relegation.

Martin Jol is unconcerned that Pamarot's departure may disrupt his in-form team.

"Southampton have made an inquiry and maybe something will happen in the next couple of days," admitted Jol, adding that he does not think the Frenchman will be irreplaceable at right-back if he departs, with Ireland under-21 international Stephen Kelly tipped to step in.

"Stephen Kelly played there before his injury. Phil Ifil, we must not forget him," said Jol.

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has launched another verbal attack on midfielder Robbie Savage and labelled his stance in asking for a transfer as "sickening and depressing".

Sullivan said: "Robbie is second only to Christophe Dugarry in my all-time list of favourite Birmingham City players and I will never forget his contribution over the last two and a half years.

"But now I find his attitude sickening and depressing. He signed a new four-year contract and then, when offered more money by a rival club, thought he could ignore it and walk away on the cheap.

"But since I've been here there has never been a player who has left us on his terms. It has always been on our terms - and always will be."

Sullivan added: "We've heard all the sob stories about Robbie moving nearer to home for the sake of his family but basically this is not the real issue.

"The bottom line is that he is an adult who signed a contract and should honour it. We all have problems in life that we have to overcome. Why he thinks he is such a different case, I don't know."