Roman Abramovich is prepared to splash out on a big-money signing this summer, according to Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck.
With a new manager to be installed, Buck does not expect wholesale changes in the playing staff, but he revealed owner Abramovich his prepared to open his chequebook should the right man become available.
"We expect three or four players to leave and three or four players to come in," the chairman told Chelsea TV. "We would like to fund those purchases with the transfer fees we receive but, having said that, if the right player comes along, even if he's an expensive player, Roman is willing to do that if it makes sense for Chelsea Football Club."
He added: "We'll all just have to see how the summer progresses and see what the club looks like when training starts in early July."
Buck revealed his admiration for the transfer policy of rivals and champions Manchester United.
He said: "They have really perfected the ability of freshening the team every year and I think we should assume that the same thing will happen at Manchester United this summer."
AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti remains favourite to replace Guus Hiddink, who has endeared himself to the Chelsea fans since being place in interim charge in February following the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari. Buck expects Chelsea to have a new man in place "sooner rather than later".
He said: "When Guus came here in February the board knew it was only a temporary assignment. No one believed us but we knew then and we know now that it was only a temporary assignment. So at that moment we started the process of thinking about who our next manager would be.
"We've done our homework and we would hope that quite probably, sooner rather than later, we will announce the manager for next season and beyond.
"We're looking for the kind of person that can win trophies for Chelsea Football Club in an entertaining way year after year after year."
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pleas ABRAMOVICH SIGN mICHAEL pLATINI so that next time he does not order that we be removed from champions league because we are English team.Dont waste your money on all these other actors.
we love u guus u are a great maneger
pls sell out deco beletti ferera minero day are wast let have some good siging like ribery zhirkov villa and crative write winger and one left bark. pls try and keep drogba maluda anco so dat we can have 22 srong taem like when morinho is dere we have srong bench. chelsae 4 life
pls sell out deco beletti ferera minero day are wast let have some good siging like ribery zhirkov villa and crative write winger and one left bark. pls try and keep drogba maluda anco so dat we can have 22 srong taem like when morinho is dere we have srong bench. chelsae 4 life
charliefineman - know your facts. everton suffered a defeat in their last game against chelsea (the FA Cup final!!!?) liverpool only drew 4-4 in their last meeting with chelsea and also beat chelsea home and away in the premiership.
but i agree, humbleman6930 is taliking out of his arse if he thinks chelsea will not be in the top 4 next season.
everton might be in the top 4 next season given arsenal don't improve. and moyes is a top manager. i have respect for the guy and so do a lot of other liverpool fans! but i dont see everton in the top 4 unless arsenal keep playing badly.
sign kaka plezzz
humbleman6930, all teams you've mentioned, with the exception of Manchester United and Everton, suffered a defeat against Chelsea in their last meetings. I think Hiddink has done enough to make critics like you choke on your opinion. I bet most of CFC supporters wished that he was in charge since the beginning of the season. Since his arrival, not only he revitalised the side, but made everyone aware of Chelsea's potential in the years to come. I guess the disgrace to the game is 20 plus games unbeaten with 1 loss to Tottenham,Cup final today, semi-final in CL. Some bad refereeing in the semi, the famous Drogba rant in front of cameras - the only downside I can see for us this season. The golden oldies at the Blues camp are making magic, shame we didn't have a game with United come the end of the season. I'm out. Good luck to Chelsea today, Everton is a brilliant team with great players, I can see the battle up until the final whistle. Let the best team win, and in that team, I want Anelka to score. lol
chelsea plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz keep
GUUS HIDDINK
the best thing to do is:
SIGN GUUS
Abflo9547 should lie down .. or is he the player's agent ?
Let's do the business today and then think about next season !
Agree with Pop .. shame Guus can't stay but he is a loyal coach .. respect !
out:belletti,paulo ferreira,mineiro,hilario,carvalho
in:zhirkov,quaresma, a new keeper
SIGN GUUS - Best Chelsea signing in years
We don't need geovani as we already got falco di santos YOU TITS.
Anymay Zhirkov is now with us for a 18.6m he will be ace.
deco belleti minor ferrra quarsema desanto..out they need one more player who can pass the deffenders like ronaldo..and one atriker like tores (mybe devid villa )....
and a best new coach i hope morinho back other wise the spain coach in last urope 2008..
Chelsea need to buy, they cant compete anymore, very average team and wont catch the big four next year ie the big 4 being Champions MU, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton.
The truth be known, Chelsea were a disgrace to the game last season.
chelsae ple sign me
Get shot of Drogba & keep the Elk
chelsea should buy:
silva
rodrigeuz
riquielme
we need someone that can keep the ball and go pass defenders not long balls ronaldo be nice gerard messi alves villa ashly young
why would any chelsea fan want geovani santus at the bridge, he was not playing in berca and now in spurs, yet can't win a shirt, why do you think he can play in chelsea as competitive as it is at SB . pls think of what you are writing b4 you come on here. concerned chelsea fan 4 life.
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