Chelsea ready for triple swoop
By Martin Lipton 30/06/2009
Chelsea are poised to confirm the first stage of their summer rebuilding under Carlo Ancelotti with the arrivals of Yuri Zhirkov, Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull.
CSKA Moscow's Zhirkov, 25, is capable of playing anywhere down the left flank and joins the Blues in a £17million four-year deal.
Striker Sturridge's fee from Manchester City is still to be assessed by a Premier League tribunal, while Middlesbrough goalkeeper Turnbull arrives on a free as Petr Cech's understudy.
Zhirkov's signing will put pressure on England star Joe Cole to come back from his knee ligament operation.
Chelsea have confirmed they will appeal against bans handed to Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa by UEFA after May's Champions League semi-final exit to Barcelona.