Chelsea: Lopez for next season
First Published: Feb 20, 2002Chelsea want Argentine international Claudio Lopez from SS Lazio.
The Rome club want to sell the attacking midfielder who joined them in 2000 from Valencia as they look to ease financial pressures.
Lopez will be part of th Argentina squad at the World Cup finals in May but Chelsea want talks to start early to try and seal his arrival after the tournament.
Current Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri worked with Lopez at Valencia four years ago when the forward hit 21 goals in 31 matches for the Italian coach.
Chelsea see Lopez as a possible replacement for current star Gianfranco Zola who may retire in June after five years at the London club.
Ranieri is also keen to bring AC Milan midfielder Rui Costa to Chelsea for next season and worked with the Portuguese play maker for three years at Fiorentina in the 1990's.
Japan star Hidetoshi Nakata has also come under scrutiny by Ranieri but Lopez is his preferred option.
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