Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is keen to boost the Russian contingent at Stamford Bridge.

The Times says according to Russian newspaper reports on Wednesday, Abramovich has set his heart on signing at least one Russia player this summer. Andriy Arshavin heads a list of players including Yuri Zhirkov, Igor Akinfeev and Roman Pavlyuchenko, whom Abramovich would like to see at Stamford Bridge next season.

Arshavin would prefer to join Barcelona, but Chelsea are in pole position after offering Zenit St Petersburg £14million, although it is unclear how the playmaker would fit into the same team as Deco, the Portugal midfield player, who was signed for £8million from Barcelona on Monday. Zenit are hoping to start a bidding war between Chelsea and Barcelona for Arshavin and are holding out for £24million, a sum that neither club is willing to pay for the 27-year-old.

"It's too early to say it's a done deal," a source close to Arshavin said. "There's a big difference between what Zenit want and what clubs have offered. I expect his future to be sorted out next week."