Sport

Chelsea to roll on

Stamford Bridge was a whirlwind of transfer activity on the eve of Chelsea's Champions League qualifier against MSK Zilina.

Tue Aug 26 2003 - 01:00

Stamford Bridge was a whirlwind of transfer activity on the eve of Chelsea's Champions League qualifier against MSK Zilina.

Owner Roman Abramovich signed Russian compatriot Alexei Smertin for £3.45 million yesterday and is poised to confirm Hernan Crespo's arrival for an expected £18 million fee today.

Claudio Ranieri's team take a 2-0 first-leg lead into their return with the Slovakian side in the third qualifying round at Stamford Bridge tonight. And while the manager was preparing his side for a game that should see Chelsea into the group stages, the club were busy finalising the eighth and ninth signings of Abramovich's reign.

Bordeaux midfielder Smertin (28) takes Abramovich's outlay to £77.75 million in little more than a month, and Inter Milan's Argentinian striker Crespo, also 28, is due for a medical before signing today.

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A Chelsea statement said: "The signing of Smertin has been completed."

And Crespo's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, said: "The agreement between the clubs has been reached and Crespo will sign his contract tomorrow after he passes his medical tests."

Chelsea centre-back John Terry hailed the arrival of Crespo, who becomes part of English football's biggest-ever spending spree.

Terry said: "The manager's made great signings and players like Juan Sebastian Veron and Crespo can only improve the other players.

"We've already got fantastic guys like Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - and the players think the signings are good competition. It's exciting times here and good for everybody."

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, signed up from West Ham for £6.6 million last month, is hoping Ranieri will start him against the Slovakians - giving him another taste of a competition he admits he is more used to sampling on his games console at home.

"The closest I have come to winning the Champions League was playing on my PlayStation," he joked. "But I hope the real thing will come one day."

Ranieri has no injury worries for tonight's game, but is without £15.8 million striker Adrian Mutu, who was signed after UEFA's deadline for this stage of the Champions League.