Abramovich decides transfers

Author of 'Roman Abramovich: Football, oil, power', Alban Traquet, has insisted that Roman Abramovich has the final say on who Chelsea buy in the transfer market. The news further adds to the rumours emerging that Avram Grant has no say on transfer policy.

Author Traquet said: "He makes the major decisions. For large transfers, the path is always the same. His scouts draw up a short-list of players, the executive committee gives their opinion and Peter Kenyon negotiates. Then, for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka for example, when everything has been validated by the deputy chairman, they call Abramovich, who at the time was on vacation in the Caribbean, to ask for his approval.

"The modus operandi of the Russians is a bit special because they often make decisions very quickly and with a lot of money at stake. What they want to know above all is the price. And sometimes, there is not even negotiations."