Chelsea defenders Yuri Zhirkov and Alex could be about to swap Barclays Premier League for the Russian Premier League.
Zhirkov looks destined to return to his homeland after two frustrating years at Stamford Bridge with cash-rich Anzhi Makhachkala. The Caucasus club are bankrolled by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov who purchased the club in January and who is attempting to raise the profile of the unfashionable outfit. A bid of £15m has been lodged for the left-sided player and is has been accepted with the Blues recouping almost the entire £17m that they paid CSKA Moscow for him in 2009.
His Brazilian team mate could soon be lining up opposite him for Zenit St Petersburg if reports in the Daily Mail are to be believed. The 29-year-old has seen his future at Stamford Bridge threatened by the January arrival of David Luiz, the recent signing of Oriol Romeu from Barcelona and the pre-season form of Branislav Ivanovic.
Juventus are also interested in signing the former PSV Eindhoven stopper and Chelsea will hope that a bidding war will ensue between the clubs.
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