Chelsea set to clinch Makelele deal

Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich was expected to clinch a deal with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez for France midfielder Claude Makelele.

Media reports in England and France said the two men were due to meet at the Champions League draw at Monaco where Abramovich would make a 10 million pound (15 million dollar) dollar move.

The 30-year-old Makelele, angry he is the lowest-paid player at Real, has told his Real Madrid teammates he no longer wants to play for the Spanish champions.

He has two years left on his contract and could earn 50,000 pounds a week with Chelsea.

Makelele would become Chelsea's 11th signing of the summer in the biggest spending spree in football history.

They have paid 96 million pounds to bring Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu, Juan-Sebastian Veron, Damien Duff, Geremi, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, Glen Johnson, Alexei Smertin and Marc Ambrosio to Stamford Bridge.

Argentine Crespo, who has signed a 90,000 pound-a-week deal following his 16.8 million pound signing from Inter Milan, told Chelsea TV: "I have come here to win things, not to make up the numbers."