From the official site:

RAJKOVIC AT HOME AWAY

With limited activity in the transfer market so far, new faces on the playing staff are rather rare on our pre-season tour of Asia.

The four youngsters excepted, it is a settled squad from that which featured last season with the addition of one man - Slobodan Rajkovic.

The Serbian defender's performances in Chelsea colours over the past few weeks have caught the eye,after five years spent on loan in Holland.

The problem with Rajkovic, 22, is that as a non-EU national, he has not fulfilled the quota of games required for a work permit to play competitively in England, and so while he can play in behind-closed-doors matches or on foreign soil like in Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong, it is expected that the defender will need to spend the next campaign abroad once more.

EU rules dictate that incoming players must be of sufficient standard to make a significant contribution to the football of that country, meaning having played in 75 per cent ofcompetitive matches for which he was available in the two years preceding application for the permit, and that the player's country is among the top 70 in world football.

Rajkovic has not met the criteria for international football, but special cases can be processed through a panel, as happened with Ramires when he joined Chelsea last summer. Players must also demonstrate competence in English, which Rajkovic can, and different countries can set different rules - hence being able to play in Holland but not England.

It is a frustrating situation for a player with unquestioned pedigree, who has settled well to life back at his parent club over the past few weeks.

'Of course I am enjoying things, I have the support of all the players so it is easy for me to play and every day I feel I am improving with them, the coach and the technical staff and I think it;s very important for me this season,' Rajkovic told Chelseafc.com/ontour.

'I can learn a lot from the experienced players, I'm very happy and I hope I can keep on this level.. Everybody has accepted me and helped me - it'sa good group with good players and people, and there is lots of personality so it's fine, and my fitness is good, I am feeling well and have no injuries so it is great.'

There is still a nagging disappointment in his voice though, as he faces up to the likelihood of football elsewhere once more, despite having contributed well to our run of five pre-season clean sheets in a row.

'Like you know I cannot play in England but if I can keep at this level, play for my national team and I can expect to play as soon as possible here,' Rajkovic said.

'But this year I think I will need to go on loan somewhere, probably in Holland again but it depends on people in the club, so when we go back to London we will try to sort something out.

'I am already five years in Holland, so maybe I could change something, but that is the politics and we will have to see what happens.'

Following yesterday's 4-0 win over Kitchee, there were encouraging words from manager Andre Villas-Boas however, who would like to investigate whether it is possible for the centre-back to remain in England.

'I think that Rajko deserves a chance with a hearing panel,' Villas-Boas said after the game. 'He has shown his qualities throughout all this pre-season.

'We weren't able to use him against Portsmouth but again you saw the level that he is at at this moment and it is a questionwe have to address carefully because also at this moment we all know the choices that we have to take in the central defender role because we have five positions and four of them are top central defenders.

'The most important thing for Rajko and his future is for him to get this panel hearing because I think his talent is good enough for the Premier League. Let's do it step by step and hopefully enough we will be able to convince the panel that Rajkovic deserves a chance in the Premier League.'

LINK

So no real change then, only a possibility. What you reckon to him Hutch? Ive been quite impressed in the games hes played, though obviously the level isnt the highest and he wasnt really tested. But he`s a presence, and a bloody big one and seems to be fairly quick. I think he would be a pretty good addition to our squad should he get a WP.

I would have thought that Chelsea would have already tried everything they can to get him a work visa. If it isnt possible i think we should try and loan him to a spanish or German side. Holland is ok but he should be tested in a better league.

So no real change then, only a possibility. What you reckon to him Hutch? Ive been quite impressed in the games hes played, though obviously the level isnt the highest and he wasnt really tested. But he`s a presence, and a bloody big one and seems to be fairly quick. I think he would be a pretty good addition to our squad should he get a WP.

That's right. Nothing new, just a clarification of the current situation, which I thought might be useful.

As you say, it's difficult to make an assessment based on a couple of hours pre-season, but I'd say there's a definite possibility that he could do a job for us.

That's right. Nothing new, just a clarification of the current situation, which I thought might be useful.

As you say, it's difficult to make an assessment based on a couple of hours pre-season, but I'd say there's a definite possibility that he could do a job for us.

It seems AVB is wanting to try and get him a WP though, so maybe there is a change after all. But I dont understand how he cant get one when you see some of the dross who do get a WP in football, some havent been near their national team yet get in easily.

I thought you could get citizenship, making you EU eligible after a certain number of years. 5 in Holland surely would be enough one would think. Any one got any idea about that?

I thought you could get citizenship, making you EU eligible after a certain number of years. 5 in Holland surely would be enough one would think. Any one got any idea about that?

Just looked up "Dutch Nationality Law" on wikipedia. Apparently he would have to have '5 years of continuous residence in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao or Sint Maarten with a valid residence permit'. I'm not sure whether he moved back to either the UK or Serbia in between his loan spells and in which case can't count it.

In addition, he would have to renounce his citizenship of Serbia; something which he might (understandably) be unwilling to do.

. But he`s a presence, and a bloody big one and seems to be fairly quick. I think he would be a pretty good addition to our squad should he get a WP.

I agree. I thought his positioning was pretty good too. He never seemed lost and put himself in the right place to snuff out danger. A man of his size is always going to look clumsy (like Crouch) but looks can be deceptive.

I'm interested to see what this guy can do, if given the chance. Serbia have produced a number of fine defenders over the last few years - Vidic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Savic - and that certainly bodes well for this guy. Also, given that he's been at the club for about 3/4 years now (?), he must be thought of highly. If he can get a WP, would be cool to see what he can do in the Carling Cup, because he of course has 4 players ahead of him in the CB pecking order.

It must be good for him that he's spent 5 years away on loan, but he's still on the books. The staff must think incredibly highly of him, and it sounds like AVB does too. I hope he does get a work permit, though he hasn't been tested properly yet (Villa on Saturday will be a test for him), I think he can do a very good job for us. Seeing as he's 22, he can still learn, and maybe in 2 or 3 years we could have Ivan at right back with Rajko and David Luiz as a centre back pairing.

From Sky:

Blues wait on Rajkovic

Dann interest depends on Rajkovic work permit

Sky Sports sources understand Chelsea's interest in Scott Dann depends on whether the Blues can get a work permit for Serbian defender Slobodan Rajkovic.

Rajkovic was signed by Chelsea from Serbian club OFK Belgrade in 2007 and has since been loaned out to Eredivisie outfits PSV Eindhoven, FC Twente and Vitesse Arnhem.

But he has returned to Stamford Bridge and played in the Blues' pre-season tour.

The 22-year-old is very highly rated by new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas but he does not as yet have a UK work permit.

It is understood if the Blues manage to get one for him, they will not spend any more money on centre-halves.

However, if they fail to get the work permit, Birmingham ace Dann is one of two targets that the Stamford Bridge outfit are closely monitoring having studied DVDs of the player and watched him in pre-season.

Liverpool are also keeping a close eye on Dann - who was born on Merseyside and is a lifelong fan of the Reds - but it is understood they would need to off-load players first before making their interest formal.

A deal to take Dann to Stoke previosuly broke down because personal terms could not be agreed but it is understood that deal is not totally dead in the water yet.

LINK

The Mail (spits) are reporting the situation as follows:

Chelsea wait on bid for Dann as work permit application for Rajkovic is heard

So should I take it that we've actually put in an application for a work permit and are currently waiting for the results, or that it's yet more 2+2 = 5 type bullsh*t from the Mail (spits again)?

I see this as a bit of a 'win win' for us, if we can't get a permit for this lad we buy a very promising English defender whilst Rajkovic continues his development and if/when he's in the national team regularly he's eligible for the WP.

If he doesn't make it, we still have a young (Proven?) English defender.

Either way i'll be happy.... That is of course if it isn't all just 'paper talk' !

Alan

Started against Russia last night, so that should help his claim for a permit

Looks as if Ivan will also miss the start of the season. Time to start praying for this poxy bloody work permit to be pushed through in time

good to see a change of manager has brought no change in fortune re. injuries

Really have my fingers crossed for Rajko.

But like blueboy says, if we have to wait yet another year for him, I would be fine with Dann as a hard working (and cheap) stopgap

I think we would still be ok right? Paulo or Boss at RB, Alex or Luiz and JT in the centre with the two left over on the bench. Kalas can come in as well to sit on the bench.

I suppose this isn't a short process getting something like this done. But he has at least played the last two for Serbia, so surely we could get him on an exemption.

Seems like AVB wants him so such so Alex can move to Juve.

Had a great game against Russia.

It seems he didn't get the work permit...

It seems he didn't get the work permit...

Where did you hear that? There haven't been any recent updates anywhere that I know of.

Where did you hear that? There haven't been any recent updates anywhere that I know of.

From google translator:

London club coach Andre Boas Viljas on Friday announced a listof players to account in the Premier League, and it was notRajkovic.

Rajkovic has gone full preparations with Chelsea, but for failing to meet the requirements for obtaining a work permit can apply for a place in the team.

Serbian football player so it will have to borrow again, most likelyin French Valenciennes, who has already submitted a quote formldog defender.

Rajkovic, who until now has been on loan at PSV, Twente andViteseu recently for "Sports," said that his ambitions for England, but by the end of the transfer, the end of August, will have to find a new club , whose colors will defend until you collect a sufficient number of matches in the national team.

http://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2011&mm=08&dd=14&nav_id=531763

hmm... I think that's just stating that he hasn't yet been granted a work permit, not that he's had an application refused.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the club are currently waiting for the result from the tribunal. It's also possible the that application has been refused but that the club haven't bothered to announce it.

Even if true I am not sure it will have a big impact this year, as i cant see him playing much anyway. Let him have another year out on loan and get some more first team experience in Europe. Maybe he can prove himself to be up to scratch for our club or if not, impress some club suitably enough to pay us good money for him.