Sheva gone, SWP is next in line

Last updated : 26 August 2008 By Paul Lagan
Cheers Sheva and thanks for...er.....?
Andriy Shevchenko has gone back to AC Milan and will never darken the doors at SW6 again.

The 31-year-old striker scored five Premier League goals in his 30-month stay in London - that amounts to about £5m a piece. Add that to his £130k a week wages and that's a hell of a load of mispent cash - even for Roman Abramovich.

Moneybags Chelsea are planning to offload Shaun Wright-Phillips too but this time they plan to recoup about £9m of the £25m they paid Manchester City. City is his preferred destination.

SWP's departure comes as Chelsea put pen to paper with Real Madrid for the signature of winger Robinho.
That deal is likely to cost the Blues £30m.

The boys are top of the Premier League with two wins out of two. But it's thanks to midfielder Deco who had notched a brace in those games.
Chelsea's striking options are woeful in comparison to the world's top clubs.

Nicolas Anelka is Chelsea's only real target man. Didier Drogba is out for a month with a knee injury and the only other so-called frontman is Salomon Kalou, who is really a winger.
Luiz Scorlari's job has been to create a rotating second striker role from his assorted midfielders. Luckily for him. Deco Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack are adept at this and the loss of a recognised second striker has not hampered their start to the season.

But Chelsea need a proper striker in soon.
Robhino will operate on the flanks and provide useful ammunition for Anelka.
But the opposition will soon work them out and that will reduce Chelsea's options to change tactics mid-match.

So farewell Sheva and welcome Robinho.
Let's hope you turn out to be more Zola and less Veron/Crespo/Sheva/Bourlahouz... the list goes on.