DUTCH star Patrick Kluivert has rejected a £25,000 a week offer to join Ruud Gullit's squad at Chelsea. But while the Stamford Bridge player/manager has been frustrated in his bid to enlarge his expensive and talented side, he insists he has no interest in bringing Paul Ince back from Inter Milan.

Kluivert (20), who is coming to the end of his contract at Ajax, has chosen instead to join AC Milan this summer on a four year deal worth an annual, post tax salary of £1.2 million.

"I wanted Kluivert but I couldn't get him," Gullit revealed yesterday. "He made his own decision and he wanted to try things in Italy.

"Of course I made an attempt. I watched him at home, I did everything. Nobody knows that, but I go to Holland often and I do my job.

"But if the player wants to make the same adventure as I did in Italy, that's OK."

But Gullit has not given up: "I've said to him maybe I will wait a year, and if it does not go well then I will be back. At this moment I do not expect to make any signings before the deadline.

"But I am making preparations for next season, and anyone can see that we are short of bodies. But we don't need just players, we need good players."

And he made a veiled criticism of former Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle for pairing Ince with David Batty in England's midfield against Italy last week.

"I have no interest in Paul Ince. We have a similar player in Eddie Newton, and having two players like that you will get the same thing that happened for England against Italy."