Chelsea are preparing to conclude a £7m transfer deal for the Cameroon full-back Geremi from Real Madrid.
The European Cup finalists are preparing to embark on another major summer of transfers, with Milan’s Andrei Shevchenko joining Patrick Vieira of Arsenal on their wanted list. Geremi’s sale will help finance those deals.
Chelsea’s manager Claudio Ranieri first tried to buy the 23-year-old last year but even though they raised their bid three times, Real’s £8m price tag was too high.
Geremi was signed from Genclerbirligi by John Toshack in 1999, when the defender was Turkey’s foreign player of the year. Real feel they have the ideal replacement in the 19-year-old Oscar Minambres Pascual who, when Geremi is sold, will cover for Michel Salgado at right back. Ranieri believes that Geremi can play at right back, right midfield or centre midfield for Chelsea.
Chelsea will recoup some of the money by allowing Sam dalla Bona to return to Italy for £4m. Although the midfielder has established himself in squad, the club have made no headway with his agents over a new contract. With only 12 months left on his deal, Chelsea have accepted they must sell.
