Chelsea boss Grant splashes out £9m on Serb defender Ivanovic

Avram Grant's spending spree continued last night when Chelsea finally announced the £8million arrival of Lokomotiv Moscow central defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The Serbia international, 23, has been courted by Juventus, Manchester United and Barcelona but they could not match Chelsea's financial muscle.

Ivanovic, who can also play left back, has already secured a work permit and may make his debut in Chelsea's Barclays Premier League clash at Birmingham on Saturday.

His arrival is likely to speed Tal Ben Haim's departure with Tottenham having expressed an interest in him.

Chelsea have a number of players at the African Cup of Nations and there are fresh doubts about Didier Drogba's role at the club when he eventually returns. Drogba wants to quit Chelsea for Barcelona.

The Ivory Coast striker said: "Any striker in my situation would be really happy to get the chance to play alongside Samuel Eto'o.

"I don't see why it should not happen. It would be something exceptional but Barcelona need to get their chequebook out.

"The things I love about Samuel are his pace, his instinct for goals, his running and simply the fact he is indispensable to Barcelona.

"When Chelsea played a Barca side that was without him, we knew we'd have the game won even before we took the field.

"Every Chelsea player would say the same and Jose Mourinho as well. When he learned that Samuel wasn't playing against us in October 2006 he told us: 'We've won.'"