Chelsea will complete a £15m deal to sign Bolton's French striker Nicolas Anelka on Friday.

 

BBC Sport understands that only formalities remain and the 28-year-old should sign in time to figure in Saturday's game against Spurs.

 

He will sign a four-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge and could go straight into the side with Didier Drogba on international duty.

 

Bolton had earlier rejected a £12m offer from Chelsea for Anelka.

 

Chelsea are without Drogba and Salomon Kalou, who are away at the African Cup of Nations, while Andriy Shevchenko has an ankle injury.

 

Shevchenko and Claudio Pizzaro, their other senior forward, have scored five Premier League goals between them this season.

 

Bolton boss Gary Megson said: "I have spoken about the situation with Nic and we agreed there is not a massive amount he or I can do.

 

"It is just as to whether the clubs can reach an agreement. I am still hopeful they can't and he stays here. But that remains to be seen.

 

"However, the deal has to suit all the parties - the selling club, the buying club and the person involved."

 

Anelka, who has scored 11 goals in 22 games this term, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge despite signing a new four-year deal with Bolton last August.

 

He has made no secret of his desire to play in the Champions League and is still eligible for this season's competition.

 

Anelka joined Bolton in 2006 from Turkish club Fenerbahce for a club record £8m.

 

He has also played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League and won the Champions League while at Real Madrid.

Edited January 11, 200817 yr by JamesP

Well he's certainly got around hasn't he? :lol: Good luck to him, but it'll be interesting to see how he reacts when doesn't start a game or 2.

he'll move to pastures new in another 18 months ^_^

It's official - he's gone! Pretty bad move i think, i mean he isnt gonna get played and lets be honest he isnt worth £15m :drama:

Chelsea have bought a very good player, who's proven in the Premiership. 15m? Is quite a small sum when you think of the crazy money players go for these days, him and Drogba could forge a real partnership together...

 

Can't help but feel though that Bolton made Anelka better than he actually is, but heyho. I don't think he'll throw any more hissy fits either as he's matured a lot as a player.

Bargain for them, he is an outstanding player who has scored for fun in the premiership for every team

 

With DogBreath seeminly on his way out after the season Anelka will get a lot of goals for them

Thats alot of money for a spare part

Personally, I think it;s a bargain. Considering it's either him or Berbatov who's not exactly much better, is just as likely to have a mood and not turn up and only scores against bottom 10 teams yet will cost twice as much it's a great signing.

 

You say he'll be a spare part. He'll immediately be 2nd choice striker, and 1st for the next 5-6 weeks.

Oh, and he's now overtaken Juan Sebastian Veron as the most expensive player ever...