Chelsea secure Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for £18m | Football | The Guardian

Chelsea secure Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for £18m Football The Guardian: "Yuri Zhirkov made a good impression for Russia in Euro 2008. Photograph: Empics
Yuri Zhirkov is due in London on Wednesday to complete an £18m move to Chelsea from CSKA Moscow in what the club hope will prove to be the first eye-catching signing in a busy period of transfer activity in and out of Stamford Bridge.
Zhirkov was recommended to Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's owner, by Guus Hiddink, the interim manager for the final three months of last season, but will effectively become Carlo Ancelotti's first signing after the Premier League club deflected interest from Barcelona, to secure the 25-year-old Russian.
He will be followed by the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and Manchester City's Daniel Sturridge, though a tribunal will need to set the fee for the young striker after the clubs failed to compromise over the compensation due.
Chelsea have moved impressively to secure Zhirkov, a player whose performances en route to the final at Euro 2008 caught the eye and who can operate at left-back, where they were short of options behind Ashley Cole, and on the left of midfield. He is due to sign a four-year contract and will meet his new team-mates at pre-season training on Monday"