CHELSEA completed the signing of Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao last night for an initial fee of £8 million. The Spain left back, the first of three signings that José Mourinho has said he expects to make during the summer, could cost an extra £4 million depending on results and appearances.
Del Horno held talks with Chelsea in London yesterday and signed a three-year contract that is believed to treble his wage to about £40,000 a week. He is likely to be the first-choice left back ahead of Wayne Bridge, who is expected to be out for several more months with an ankle injury.
“Asier is an outstanding international player who will add quality to the squad in a position we needed to strengthen,” Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, said. “I’m sure he will be a key player as Chelsea continue with the goal to achieve greater success both in England and in the Champions League.”
Del Horno, 24, spoke to several Spanish players in the Barclays Premiership, including Xabi Alonso, the Liverpool midfield player, before making his decision. The defender believes he has “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
Del Horno made his international debut against Scotland in September and has scored two goals, including the winner against England in November. His signing may end Chelsea’s interest in Kakha Kaladze, the AC Milan left back, who has held talks with Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, in recent weeks.
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“José identified his target to fill the left-back position and we’re delighted Asier has chosen to come to Chelsea,” Kenyon said. “The arrival of Asier signifies Chelsea’s desire to strengthen the squad in key positions following a hugely successful season and we all look forward to seeing Asier in the blue of Chelsea in July.”
Chelsea have also been alerted to the growing tension between Steven Gerrard’s representatives and Liverpool in advance of contract negotiations next week. Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, and Mourinho would be forgiven for regarding developments with scepticism after being spurned twice by the England midfield player in the past 12 months, but they are monitoring Gerrard’s situation with interest again after learning of what appears to be an untimely breakdown in communications.
It seemed as recently as last weekend that Gerrard, the subject of two informal inquiries from Real Madrid, was merely waiting for the signal to put pen to paper on a lucrative extension to his contract, which expires in 2007. But the situation has been complicated by a belief held by his adviser, SFX, that Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, wants to sell him to Real Madrid.
Sources at Anfield maintain that this is not the case and that Benítez has told Real of his desire to “build a team around” his captain, but tension between the sides is growing.
Igor Biscan, one player who is definitely on his way out of Anfield, is “90 per cent certain” to join Besiktas, according to Riza Calimbay, the Turkish club’s head coach. Uefa has confirmed Liverpool among the top seeds for the first two qualifying rounds of the Champions League. Total Network Solutions and Glentoran, champions of Wales and Northern Ireland respectively, are among the 12 teams they could face in Friday’s first-round draw.