Chelsea
have rejected a £10m player-plus cash bid involving Michael
Reiziger from Barcelona for striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Hasselbaink has been linked with a big-money move away from Stamford
Bridge for some time after it was reported the Blues were prepared
to sell the Holland international to help ease the club's financial
problems.
New Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal wanted the 30-year-old to team
up with fellow countryman Patrick Kluivert at the Nou Camp and has
been tracking the striker over the summer. But Chelsea have turned
down the bid with boss Claudio Ranieri desperate to keep hold of
his star man, who hit 26 goals last season.
However, with the club struggling to cope with reported debts of
£97m from parent company Chelsea Village plc, it remains to
be seen whether they would accept an improved offer for Hasselbaink
from the Catalan giants.
