Soccer Shorts: Chelsea will learn in the next 48 hours whether they will land AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko but may have to wait until after the World Cup to continue their pursuit of Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Shevchenko insists he will reveal his future plans tomorrow while Van Nistelrooy, linked with a £15 million switch to Stamford Bridge, has decided to leave his options open until after the finals in Germany.
Ironically, the Chelsea player most likely to be used as part of the deal to lure Van Nistelrooy, Eidur Gudjohnsen, has been the subject of transfer interest from England and elsewhere in Europe.
Chelsea remain hopeful of landing Shevchenko despite reports suggesting the Italian club were guilty of tapping up their striker Didier Drogba.
Chief executive Peter Kenyon confirmed they were still in the hunt for Shevchenko as well as hinting at signing more younger players.
Drogba, who said last week that he no longer liked playing in England, was told he would see out the remaining two years of his contract at Stamford Bridge by coach Jose Mourinho. Now the Ivory Coast striker, signed by Chelsea for a club record £24.4 million, insists staying in London has its attractions.
Drogba (28) said: "I am still under contract with Chelsea for two years. In London there are a lot of clubs, so it is easier for the daily life."
Gudjohnsen, the player likely to move in the opposite direction if Chelsea succeed with their pursuit of the Van Nistelrooy, is now the subject of much interest from clubs in Europe.
Morientes may stay
Fernando Morientes will not be returning to Spain this summer, according to the Liverpool striker's agent. The 30-year-old, who was left out of Spain's squad for next month's World Cup, has been linked with moves to Real Betis and Valencia in the Primera Liga.
Morientes joined Liverpool in January 2005 from Real Madrid but has struggled to adapt to the Premiership, scoring just 12 goals since his £6.3 million move. "These are only rumours made up by the press," his agent, Gines Carvajal, said yesterday. "There's nothing real - the only thing that is certain is Morientes has two years left on his contract with Liverpool," he added.
McClaren wants Venables
The Football Association are unlikely to block Steve McClaren's bid to bring Terry Venables back into the England set-up. McClaren, who takes over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup finals, has identified Venables as the ideal man to work alongside him on the international scene.
Venables has also had talks with Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson and McClaren is concerned that his old club, also been linked with Martin O'Neill and Alan Curbishley, could beat him in the race for the 63-year-old.
In brief . . .
Stilian Petrov's agent, Tony McGill, admits the Bulgaria international could still be at Celtic for the start of next season. McGill's other clients at the Parkhead club, defender Stanislav Varga, has been offered a further one-year deal. Peter Lovenkrands has left Rangers having completed a move to German club Schalke.
