Last week, Peter Kenyon said that the chances of signing Andriy Shevchenko were ?50/50?. This morning there are rumours that Sheva has made up his mind and he will be checking in to Stamford Bridge.
At the time, it seemed strange that Kenyon would publicly suggest that these negotiations were very much up in the air. If he was prepared to evaluate the chances of landing the striker at ?50/50?, surely that was his way of revealing that the chances, actually, were around 98/2 in our favour?
Just before the weekend, the player himself (who had already stated that he was thinking of leaving Milan) also declared that he would reveal his future by Thursday of this week.
Apparently we won?t have to wait that long, and tomorrow will merely confirm what is already being widely reported.
Shevchenko was in Moscow yesterday, for some publicity junket. He was prepared to state that he had made up his mind, and that he had already planned a meeting (presumably today) with Milan big cheese Adriano Galliani, to inform Milan that his decision is to leave the Serie A and to take up Chelsea?s offer. This will be announced to the world tomorrow, putting an end to the whole saga.
Shevchenko had already made it clear that he wanted to take part in the World Cup ? with his future decided. Which is why he?s announcing quickly that he?ll be swapping Milan for London, and giving in to the long courtship that Chelsea undertook almost from the beginning of the Abramovich era. All that will be left is to negotiate the details.
And the numbers. According to reports (which are, inevitably, subject to wild exaggeration), the figures involved are astronomical. Chelsea are said to be prepared to pay Milan ?40 million ?. and William Gallas, who is estimated (with only one year left on his contract) to be worth a further ?10 million. That?s £27,2 million plus £6,8 for Gallas, so a total of £34 million for the Ukrainian hitman. And Chelsea will be looking to fork out even more moneey as we?ll have to start looking for a replacement for William Gallas.
In addition, there is the player?s salary. The reports are that his contract will be for ?40 million for 4 years. That puts Sheva on a salary of just over £130,000 per week.
The announcement would surely constitute a major declaration of intent for Chelsea, having already signed one world-class player this summer, in the shape of Michael Ballack.
Confirmation tomorrow.
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