Sport

Vialli adds Italian winger to squad

Chelsea last night completed the signing of the Italian winger Gabriele Ambrosetti from Vicenza for £3.5 million

Sat Aug 14 1999 - 01:00

Chelsea last night completed the signing of the Italian winger Gabriele Ambrosetti from Vicenza for £3.5 million. Ambrosetti (26), who has one Italy under-21 cap, has not been part of the Italian club's plans since their relegation to Serie B last season.

However, he impressed Chelsea's manager Gianluca Vialli with his performances for Vicenza in both legs of the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final against Chelsea two season ago.

Ambrosetti, who has agreed a five-year contract, was not signed in time to be in Chelsea's squad for their trip to Leicester today, but he will strengthen Chelsea's squad as they challenge in Europe as well as the Premiership and two domestic cups. He should provide the option of genuine pace on the flanks, something which many observers feel Vialli's side is lacking.

The deal takes Chelsea's spending since last season to almost £17 million following the captures of Chris Sutton, Didier Deschamps and Jes Hogh, although the outlay has been balanced by the departures of fringe players such as Michael Duberry.

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Gustavo Poyet currently plays on the left-hand side of the Chelsea midfield, although he could be moved into central midfield alongside either Dennis Wise or Deschamps if Ambrosetti can hold down a regular first-team place.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid, meanwhile, has signed the 31-year-old French midfielder Eric Roy from Marseille. The fee is around £200,000. "There's a new coach at Marseille and Eric is surplus to their requirements," Reid said. "He's elegant on the ball and he'll be a good squad member." Everton's Scottish international midfielder Don Hutchison has failed to agree terms for a new contract. Hutchison, who still has two years of his current deal left to run, had been hoping to negotiate a three-year extension.

"I wanted to sign up for life but they don't seem that enthusiastic," said Hutchison. "The problem seems to be with the board. Even so, there is no way I will be asking for a transfer."

The former Everton striker Gary Lineker has been confirmed as the new regular presenter of Match of the Day after he and Alan Hansen signed new five-year deals with the BBC. Lineker will replace Des Lynam who left the BBC last week to join ITV.