Chelsea in for Kaka with Drogba offered as bait

Abramovich's summer spending spree set to involve Hamsik, Cahill and £20m Rodwell

Marc Padgett
Saturday 05 March 2011 20:00 EST
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Kaka played the best club football of his career when Carlo Ancelotti managed him at Milan
Kaka played the best club football of his career when Carlo Ancelotti managed him at Milan (GETTY IMAGES)

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Roman Abramovich is set to continue his spending spree this summer, with a move for Kaka the most high-profile deal and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba possibly offered to Real Madrid in part-exchange.

Galvanised by his acquisitions of Fernando Torres and David Luiz for a combined £75 million, the Stamford Bridge supremo – anxious to recruit an eye-catching creative midfielder – is keen to splash the cash again and sees the BrazilNo 10 Kaka as his marquee signing.

Chelsea observers were at the San Siro on Monday night to watch Milan play Napoli and, in particular,the visitors' Marek Hamsik, the Slovakian playmaker for whom the Italians want €30 million (£25.8m).

Kaka's father and agent, Bosco Leite, was also at the San Siro, and it is believed he is open to offers. Kaka played the best club football of his career when Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, managed him at Milan but has been a disappointment at the Bernabeu. The Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, would certainly be interested in any part-exchange deal that ended up with Drogba in Spain.

Abramovich, who first offered €100m for Kaka after the 2006 World Cup, may move for Internazionale's Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder if the deal falls through. The Chelsea owner is also interested in Alexis Sanchez, the Chilean winger for whom Udinese want £25m.

Two centre-halves also on the radar are Neven Subotic, the 22-year-old Serbian from Borussia Dortmund, valued at €20m, and Bolton's Gary Cahill as Chelsea prepare for life without John Terry and Frank Lampard, who is 33 this summer.

Chelsea are prepared to pay at least £15m to land the Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell this summer, but do not rule out last-minute bids from Manchester United or Manchester City. The Independent on Sunday believes Rodwell will leave Goodison Park at the end of the season, and the fee could rise as high as £20m if it becomes a three-way bidding war.

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