Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he wants to freshen up his squad with three new signings this summer - with Michael Ballack top of his shopping list.
Both the Blues and the Germany midfielder have admitted they have held advanced talks about 29-year-old Ballack moving to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho, meanwhile, insists he is also hopeful of recruiting a defender and a striker before next season, although he accepts some members of his current squad will have to be sacrificed.
"We change three players," said Mourinho. "Three players who want to play more and are not very happy in the club, or some players I am frustrated with and have nothing to give us.
"I change them for three other players. I would say three players will come in in the summer. It is the natural process. We have a good squad, players at a good age, not players finishing their career. [Claude] Makelele is the oldest player [33] and he looks the youngest one.
"We don't have big needs. The natural tendency is we get a defender, a midfielder and an attacker," quotes The Times.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed the club are in talks with Bayern Munich captain Ballack.
The German international skipper revealed he was in "serious negotiations" with the reigning Barclays Premiership champions and now Kenyon has underlined Chelsea's firm interest in the 29-year-old.
Ballack is available on a free transfer after rejecting the offer of a new deal from the German giants and Kenyon admits the Londoners are in deep negotiations with the player about a summer move to Stamford Bridge.
"I would echo that we are in serious negotiations," Kenyon told BBC Radio London. "Clearly he is an outstanding and big player so I think we are in good, serious negotiations with him and would echo what he said.
"We are at a good stage and I am delighted as to where we are."
Ballack has come under fire from Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness, who has accused him of thinking only about money in wanting to join Chelsea when his contract with the German giants is up.
However, Ballack hit back: "I was a bit irritated by the comments from Uli and Kalle [Rummenigge] in the last few weeks.
"You shouldn't make a move because of the money. It's great to earn so much as a professional soccer player but money doesn't mean anything when you're going about your profession day in and day out. The only thing that counts is sport."
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