Kaladze to be a blue

Soccer Shorts: AC Milan's Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze has claimed he has agreed personal terms with Premiership champions Chelsea.

"Everything between Chelsea and myself has been agreed," Kaladze (27) said. "It's a five-year contract and I'm very happy with all the conditions I was offered. Now the only thing left is for Chelsea and Milan to agree on a transfer fee."

Jose Mourinho has been looking for cover at left back and Georgia's captain fits the bill, but the Chelsea manager also confirmed yesterday that the London side are talking to Athletic Bilbao left back Asier Del Horno.

Mourinho also revealed that three players will definitely be leaving the club - paving the way for the almost certain departures of Scott Parker, Mateja Kezman and Mikael Forssell.

"Three will leave, three will come in, we will look to sign a left-back, a midfielder and an attacker," Mourinho said. "Our left back already left in December for Newcastle, that is (Celestine) Babayaro.

"We are in conversations with Del Horno from Bilbao and later we have to sign a midfielder and an attacker. But there will be no Portuguese players coming in."

One player not on his way to Stamford Bridge is AC Milan striker Adriano who insisted yesterday he is not interested in a possible move to Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Robert Huth has reaffirmed his desire to stay at Chelsea by rebuffing an approach from Bundesliga runners-up Schalke.

Liverpool court Zenden

Middlesbrough's Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden is reportedly a transfer target for Champions League winners Liverpool.

Zenden (28), who is out of contract this July and would be available on a free transfer, is said to have been contacted by Rafael Benitez.

The approach was confirmed by the player's father and agent, Pierre, yesterday.

Ricardo set for Arsenal

Arsenal are poised to sign Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo from Sporting Lisbon. They have been searching for a goalkeeper following inconsistent performances from Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia and see the 29-year-old as the solution.

Ricardo said: "I like challenges and to play in the Premiership is one, and more so a team like Arsenal who aspire to everything."

Meanwhile, Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein insists Thierry Henry will remain at Highbury. Henry (27), has been linked with a move away from the London club, with Real Madrid and Barcelona reported to be interested. "Thierry Henry is our player and will remain so," Dein said.

Old Firm duo seeded

Rangers and Celtic are set to be seeded in the final qualifying round of next season's Champions League. As Scottish Premier League champions, Rangers go straight into the third round draw, which will be made on July 29th. And runners-up Celtic are likely to be there too should they overcome their second round opponents, whose identity will be known on June 24th.

The Old Firm rivals would be seeded in the third round draw, which means they would avoid being paired with the likes of Manchester United, Inter Milan, Ajax and Monaco.

Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon, Villarreal, Rosenborg, Slavia Prague and Club Brugge are also confirmed seeds.

But a "Battle of Britain" is possible as Everton, the fourth-placed English side, are not seeded.

Sheehan answers call

The Republic of Ireland under-21 team take on Israel tonight in Longford, where they will hope a victory might spark a late charge in a qualifying campaign that has yielded just three points from three games, reports Emmet Malone.

Alan Sheehan of Leicester City will make his debut at this level, coming in at left back, while Cork City's Roy O'Donovan could feature on the bench after being drafted into the squad.

Another Cork City player, Kevin Doyle, is expected to rejoin the squad after travelling back from Reading, where he had contract talks.

IRELAND UNDER-21S (v Israel): Henderson (Aston Villa); Foley (Luton Town), McCarthy (Leicester City), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Sheehan (Leicester City); Bell (Rushden and Diamonds), Potter (Liverpool), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), McGeady (Celtic); Tabb (Brentford), Murphy (Waterford United).

Buffon going nowhere

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluca Buffon says he has no intention of leaving Turin to join Manchester United. The Italian international had been earmarked by Alex Ferguson as the one to finally solve the goalkeeping woes at Old Trafford.

"I'm not going to Manchester United," he said. "The conditions are not in place for a move."

In brief . . .

Republic of Ireland striker Jon Macken (27), has joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee after being told by Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce he had no future at Eastlands . . . Millwall's Dublin-born defender Alan Dunne (22), has agreed a new deal which will keep him at the New Den until 2007 . . . Olympique Marseille have sacked coach Philippe Troussier, who was on the shortlist to replace Mick McCarthy as manager of the Republic of Ireland three years ago.