Zhirkov poised for Chelsea exit as ambitious Anzhi close in on £13.2m Russian midfielder
By Ashley Gray
Last updated at 11:07 PM on 1st August 2011
Yury Zhirkov is close to ending an unhappy two-year spell with Chelsea after holding talks with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala about a £13.2million move.
The 27-year-old visited Anzhi's training base on the outskirts of Moscow, where he met the club's head coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev and their players.
Exit: Yury Zhirkov looks set leave Chelsea after struggling at Stamford Bridge
Exit: Yury Zhirkov looks set leave Chelsea after struggling at Stamford Bridge
More established powers such as Zenit St Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan are also keen on Zhirkov, but Anzhi look set to win the race thanks to their billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov.
Zhirkov has been plagued by persistent injuries in both knees since joining Chelsea from CSKA Moscow for £18m in 2009.
Despite getting opportunities to play under Andre Villas-Boas on Chelsea's tour of the Far East, the pursuit of Luka Modric and emergence of Josh McEachran means competition will once again be fierce this season.
Anzhi have tried to lure several big names since Kerimov brought the club at the beginning of the year and promptly signed Brazil legend Roberto Carlos from Corinthians.
The previously little-known club have even tabled bids topping £40m each for Santos stars Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso.
Anzhi defender Rasim Tagirbekov said: 'Yury is a great footballer. The team are very happy that he is coming to our club. It's a very good signing for Anzhi. Zhirkov already had a chat with the head coach and almost all of the players.'
Gadzhiev has also expressed an interest in signing Roman Pavlyuchenko this summer, but the Tottenham striker is keen to stay in London.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2021158/Yury-Zhirkov-leave-Chelsea-Anzhi-Makhachkala.html#ixzz1Tp2WwTfM
By Ashley Gray
Last updated at 11:07 PM on 1st August 2011
Yury Zhirkov is close to ending an unhappy two-year spell with Chelsea after holding talks with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala about a £13.2million move.
The 27-year-old visited Anzhi's training base on the outskirts of Moscow, where he met the club's head coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev and their players.
Exit: Yury Zhirkov looks set leave Chelsea after struggling at Stamford Bridge
Exit: Yury Zhirkov looks set leave Chelsea after struggling at Stamford Bridge
More established powers such as Zenit St Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan are also keen on Zhirkov, but Anzhi look set to win the race thanks to their billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov.
Zhirkov has been plagued by persistent injuries in both knees since joining Chelsea from CSKA Moscow for £18m in 2009.
Despite getting opportunities to play under Andre Villas-Boas on Chelsea's tour of the Far East, the pursuit of Luka Modric and emergence of Josh McEachran means competition will once again be fierce this season.
Anzhi have tried to lure several big names since Kerimov brought the club at the beginning of the year and promptly signed Brazil legend Roberto Carlos from Corinthians.
The previously little-known club have even tabled bids topping £40m each for Santos stars Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso.
Anzhi defender Rasim Tagirbekov said: 'Yury is a great footballer. The team are very happy that he is coming to our club. It's a very good signing for Anzhi. Zhirkov already had a chat with the head coach and almost all of the players.'
Gadzhiev has also expressed an interest in signing Roman Pavlyuchenko this summer, but the Tottenham striker is keen to stay in London.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2021158/Yury-Zhirkov-leave-Chelsea-Anzhi-Makhachkala.html#ixzz1Tp2WwTfM
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