Chelsea to make £10m bid for Darijo Srna

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a £10 million bid for Shakhtar Donetsk full-back Darijo Srna in the January transfer window.

By Telegraph staff

Published: 1:30PM GMT 11 Dec 2009

Wanted: Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Darijo Srna Photo: REUTERS According to a report in the Evening Standard, Chelsea have already contacted the Ukrainian club to confirm their interest.

Shakhtar are said to be willing to listen to offers for the 27 year-old and will not stand in his way should Chelsea table a bid that matches the club's valuation.

The top 50 Premier League transfer targetsSrna, whose current deal expires in 2011, is open to a move away from Ukraine and has indicated that a couple of clubs have already been in contract.

He said: “The truth is I have two definite offers from top clubs in Europe, but I cannot name them. That would not be right.â€

Chelsea are looking to bolster their defensive numbers with Jose Bosingwa ruled out for three months and Juliano Belletti and Paulo Ferreira failing to impress coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Croatia international Srna would provide Chelsea with an attacking threat down the right hand side which they are currently lacking.

He would also be eligible to play in the Champions League even though he has played in the Europa League this season.

Don't know much about the bloke but I suppose an attacking RB in the Bosingwa mould might help if we are to stick to the Diamond, likely just papertalk but thought I'd post it anyway as its a bit quiet.

i've never heard of this bloke but if he's any good it makes sense to look for cover for bosingwa. i reckon we've been missing him more than a lot of people realise. without him we've been a lot slower and more predictable.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

I'm happy seeing Ivanovic/Paulo/Belletti in that position while Boss recovers. Ivan and Paulo should play more than Belletti though, why Belletti plays over Paulo is beyond me.

Based on the little I've seen, he seems like a pretty decent player, but I'm not sure if we need him.

Well, he is one of the first ones shipped to the Premier League in an FM game I play. It's Man City usually. Not too bad. But we seriously DO NOT need him.

A non-starter.

He is a good player but the last thing we need is another right back.

I've seen him play once and he was really good in that one. Apart from that I only know of him through Football Manager. I always buy him because he's an excellent player on it (can play all along the right side and I think even to the left if necessary). One downside though, in FM he's probably injured more often than Robben :o

Wouldn't be fair to Bossie/ Ivanovic and other players in the RB-position, IMO.

Wouldn't be fair to Bossie/ Ivanovic and other players in the RB-position, IMO.

Well if we would go for Srna, then I guess we have some future plans to use Ivanovic as a central defender. And both Ferreira and Belletti is getting older and maybe Carlo don't see them as the best of backups.

But, this is just a rumour so I guess it'll turn out false in the end.

Srna would be a good buy, and give us the excuse to finally get rid of Ferreira & Belletti (along with Deco of course)

Srna is better than Belletti and Fereira for sure...but he would struggle to get a game when Jose is back (or Jose would struggle to get back in), which wouldn't be fair.

It would also limit Ivanovic's chances. He can play CB, but there's not a consistent role for him, when he's behind Terry, Carvalho and maybe Alex.

Srna would be a good buy, and give us the excuse to finally get rid of Ferreira & Belletti (along with Deco of course)

You'd take any excuse to get rid of Deco... :o

Srna is better than Belletti and Fereira for sure...but he would struggle to get a game when Jose is back (or Jose would struggle to get back in), which wouldn't be fair.

It would also limit Ivanovic's chances. He can play CB, but there's not a consistent role for him, when he's behind Terry, Carvalho and maybe Alex.

Considering that Ivanovic has played well at RB I doubt Chelsea will consider buying Srna unless Carlo is thinking of playing Ivanovic as CB. And if that is the case then it would seem that one of Riccy or Alex was leaving us.

Unless of course Carlo want to rotate the team like mad and play Cole - JT - Riccy - Bosingwa in one game and Yuri - Alex - Ivanovic - Srna in the next. But somehow I doubt he will.

On the other hand he might not need Srna for that because he can play Belletti at RB and Ferreira as CB in some games. Ain't that right, BlueBeard? :o

Considering that Ivanovic has played well at RB I doubt Chelsea will consider buying Srna unless Carlo is thinking of playing Ivanovic as CB. And if that is the case then it would seem that one of Riccy or Alex was leaving us.

Unless of course Carlo want to rotate the team like mad and play Cole - JT - Riccy - Bosingwa in one game and Yuri - Alex - Ivanovic - Srna in the next. But somehow I doubt he will.

On the other hand he might not need Srna for that because he can play Belletti at RB and Ferreira as CB in some games. Ain't that right, BlueBeard? :o

Yes, that's the problem I see....

I'm happy with Ivanovic at RB at least until Bosingwa comes back...

And I don't want to sell JT, Carvs or Alex.

Don't really need Srna, but he is still better than Belletti and Fereira.

i think that's the point though...belletti and ferreira are old news, while bosingwa is out for a while...i like ivanovic but he's limited going forward...srna suits ancelotti's attacking formation...sounds good to me

i think that's the point though...belletti and ferreira are old news, while bosingwa is out for a while...i like ivanovic but he's limited going forward...srna suits ancelotti's attacking formation...sounds good to me

But the question then is whether we really should spend £10m on a player who we only need for a couple of months (I guess Bosingwa will be back in about 2 months). And when Bosingwa returns then we'll have three players for the RB and that is a bit much. Sure, Ivanovic might not be as much of an attacking threat as Bosingwa, but he is solid enough and since I hope Bosingwa wont be injured all the time Ivanovic should be good enough backup.

If we normally used Ivanovic on another position then I would say yes to this deal at once, but that is not the case (he can play CB, but Alex is ahead of him there).

On the other hand, we have only been talking defenders so far and unless I'm mistaking Srna can also play to the right of the midfield and as a winger. So he could be used as cover for Joey. But since we don't play with wingers I see no real point to sign him for that.

No, Srna is a player I wouldn't mind having, but we don't really need him at the moment. If we're to buy him, then someone surely has to leave.

If we're going to buy a fullback, make it Santon. He's fantastic for an 18 year old. Can play on both sides I think.

I know it won't happen...but jeez...I would be stoked to get him.

Another right-back? Low on the priority list, I'd imagine.

But then again, I suppose it's to prepare for Belletti and Ferreira's imminent departure in a couple of years.

If we're going to buy a fullback, make it Santon. He's fantastic for an 18 year old. Can play on both sides I think.

I know it won't happen...but jeez...I would be stoked to get him.

Second that.

Ferreira could be part of the Aguero deal maybe, hence the need for another RB.

Sign him and we'll have hands down the best free-kick taker in the league. His shooting and crossing from deadballs is brilliant.

I don't get it. We have an impending transfer ban coming up, and it's not as if our RB's are all spring chickens. People in one hand are saying that we need to sign with one eye on the future, and now we seem to be making a move in the veign that we need, and people are saying that it's a non-starter?

Let's take a look at our RB situation:

Bosingwa: certainly our first choice, unfortunate to be injured right now. Decent age, and should be good for another couple of seasons.

Paulo: Been a stalwart, and a terrific squad player, will be 31 in January. Don't think he's much more now than cover, and wouldn't be a huge loss (as much as I appreciate him) if we were to sell him.

Belletti: 33 already, and for some reason is continuing to get games. Plays well when called on, but again, with a possible transfer ban coming in, the sort of player we don't need. Think he's onl on a 3 year deal since 2007, so he'll be on the way out in the summer on a free.

Ivan: Performed very well when called upon, and shows his versatility. 26 in February, so should be a great player to have as back up in the coming years. However, I fully expect him to be put back into his role of a Central Defender, and compete with Alex for the slot that will be left vacant by Percy leaving.

So, bar dropping Essien back into the RB position, there is no way we shouldn't be considering a move for a player to come in as cover for Bosingwa.

we have zhirkov as a back up attacking left back for ash and also providing comp with malouda further forward...we don't have an attacking right back as back up for bosingwa...ivan did well again today, but there were times he still seemed uncomfy getting forward...i have noticed since bosingwa got injured, the opposition are concentrating on blocking ash and giving ivan the space to run into cos they don't fear him as much...ash has defintely gone more quiet as an attacking force...we need two threatening full backs and srna could do the job better than ivan

i really hope we dont sign him as i have no idea how to say his second name. is it said "serna" or "sna" or even "shna"? damn foreigners and their convoluted names.

i really hope we dont sign him as i have no idea how to say his second name. is it said "serna" or "sna" or even "shna"? damn foreigners and their convoluted names.

That one.