Chelsea hope to close a deal for CSKA Moscow wing-back Yuri Zhirkov by next week.

The Daily Mail says the versatile Russia wide man is ready to sign a four-year contract worth £80,000 a week and an £18million fee has reportedly been agreed with CSKA Moscow.

The deal was agreed in principle six months ago but has been complicated by Zhirkov's preference for playing for Barcelona and his fear of being just a squad player at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who spoke to Zhirkov after Russia's match in Finland earlier this month, is said to have assured the 25-year-old he will be highly valued by new boss Carlo Ancelotti.