ROME (AFP) - Chelsea misfit Andriy Shevchenko will join Sampdoria on loan as soon as the Genoa side sort out his wage demands, Italian media reported on Sunday.

"'Sheva would be happy to join us, but there are problems around his wages," Sampdoria's general manager Beppe Marotta told the Secolo XIX newspaper.

"Many top class players like Sampdoria and a deal is entirely plausible."

The Ukrainian, who has scored just nine times in 47 Premier League games for Chelsea, is seen as the man to end Sampdoria's problems in front of goal.

"We have a way to resolve our problems upfront with a figure able to stir up the crowd as well as put the ball in the back of the net," said Marotta.

Shevchenko has endured two difficult seasons at Chelsea after moving from AC Milan for 30 million pounds (37 million euro) in 2006.

The 31-year-old has been consistently linked with a move back to Italy, with his former club favourites to secure his signature.

If successful, Sampdoria's move could reap the kind of rewards as that of last year's loan signing Antonio Cassano.

Brought in from Real Madrid in August, the fiery Italian scored 10 goals to earn an international call-up to Italy's Euro 2008 squad.

"We're in the same situation with Sheva as we were with Cassano," Marotta added. "The Cassano move is a difficult thing to replicate, but never say never."