JOSÉ MOURINHO’S desire to assemble the best players is not restricted solely to expensive international stars and yesterday the Chelsea manager continued with his policy of buying young when he signed Thomas Lyskov, a 14-year-old prodigy. But it leaves Chelsea facing another compensation row over a promising player, this time with Reading, who are demanding £100,000 for Lyskov, a left-sided player who has been with them for four years.
The Barclays Premiership champions have still to resolve a restitution deal with Stockport County for Harry Worley, the 16-year-old centre back, whom they signed in April.
It is believed that Brendan Rodgers, who left his post as Reading academy manager to work for the Chelsea youth set-up last summer, recommended Lyskov. “We are very disappointed to lose Thomas after so much effort has been put into his development,” Eamonn Dolan, the Reading academy manager, said.
Mateja Kezman, the Serbia and Montenegro forward, is to join Atlético Madrid from Chelsea on a three-year contract. “Agreement is total between Atlético, the player and Chelsea,” Enrique Cerezo, the Spanish club’s president, said last night. Cerezo added that Fernándo Torres, the highly-rated forward, would not be part of the deal.
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Kezman, who arrived in Madrid earlier in the day with his agent to discuss terms, is expected to have a medical today and will put pen to paper once a few details have been finalised with the English champions. Atlético finished eleventh in La Liga last season, scoring only 40 goals in their 38 league games. Three weeks ago, they dismissed César Ferrando as coach and replaced him with Carlos Bianchi, the former Boca Juniors coach.
Kezman is Atlético’s first new signing since the season ended. He joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven a year ago but failed to make a significant contribution to the club’s first league title in 50 years. The 26-year-old scored only four league goals in 24 appearances. Kezman’s difficulties continued when he was dropped from the Serbia and Montenegro squad for the World Cup qualifier against Belgium this month.
Kezman boasted an impressive goalscoring record in the Dutch league, where he scored 105 goals in 122 league matches for PSV Eindhoven, but his pedigree was found wanting at the top level last season, when he managed only seven goals in 41 appearances in all competions and was not able to hold down a regular first-team place. He turned down a move to Benfica two weeks ago. “When I played in Holland I scored a lot of goals and I want to prove I can still score,” Kezman said.
Alexander Hleb, the Belarus midfield player, has agreed personal terms with Arsenal and should finalise his move from VfB Stuttgart after having a medical and obtaining a work permit this week.
Celtic hope to persuade Antti Niemi to join them next week when they return for pre-season training. Southampton are asking for £3 million for the goalkeeper.