Cole's loan fuels Crespo speculation

Charlton Athletic have signed Carlton Cole on loan for the rest of the season from Chelsea as Claudio Ranieri's free-spending club chase Hernan Crespo, Internazionale's Argentinian striker.

Cole has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and could make his debut for the Addicks at Wolves on Saturday, linking up with Charlton's last signing, Paolo di Canio, in Alan Curbishley's front line at The Valley.

The Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch said on the club's website: "Carlton has a big future at Chelsea and this is a wonderful opportunity for him to improve his education. We are taking advantage of the new rules which allows loans between Premiership clubs to give Carlton some regular Premier League football.

"That is the level at which we want him this season, and we are sure he'll come back at the end a better player."

Cole, who was part of David Platt's Under-21 team beaten by Croatia on Tuesday, scored six goals in three starts and 13 substitute appearances last season, but needs regular first-team games to sharpen up.

Cole's move has fuelled speculation that Crespo could be on his way to Stamford Bridge. New owner Roman Abramovich has already lavished £75m on Ranieri's squad, including the £15.8m Romanian international Adrian Mutu from Parma.

Inter's general manager Massimo Moretti said that although his club had recently indicated their determination to keep Crespo, who is contracted until 2006, a major bid could force their hand.

"First and foremost, we look out for the interests of our players and of the club." Moretti said. "We have not offered to sell our players, but we are willing to listen to the clubs who are interested in our players."

Inter confirmed last week that Chelsea had shown an interest in the player who was recruited last summer from Lazio as a replacement for the Real Madrid-bound Ronaldo.

The 28-year-old has an impressive Serie A goal record and although he has struggled with injuries over the past year, it is assumed that Inter would be seeking a fee of at least £20m for his services. According to reports in Italy, Chelsea had an offer of £18.4m rejected, although they have not confirmed the bid.

If a deal were to go through, Crespo would join his international team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron at Stamford Bridge. The pair were also team-mates at Lazio under Sven Goran Eriksson, Veron being a member of the team which won the 2000 Serie A title and Crespo being bought in the summer following the title triumph for £35.7m from Parma.

Crespo justified that fee with 26 goals in his first season, but was sacrificed when Lazio ran into financial trouble.

Crespo's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, has good links with Chelsea after representing Veron during protracted transfer negotiations which led to his departure from Manchester United this summer.

Hidalgo said: "Crespo's future is still uncertain. The player and Inter will have to take a decision if Chelsea make an offer. The player will not discuss this matter until there is a firm offer."

Crespo told Inter's website, that he had no desire to leave the club. "I am an Inter player, I only think about Inter, I am happy in Milan and Moratti has given me a long contract which satisfies me," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bordeaux midfielder Alexei Smertin is poised to become the latest player to join Chelsea, according to reports.

A Russian newspaper, quoting Smertin's agent Paulo Barbosa, said the Russia captain would sign a four-year contract with Chelsea this week after completing a medical.

"In principle, we have agreed everything and Alexei will sign a four-year deal with Chelsea," the newspaper quoted Barbosa as saying. "There is just one minor detail to work out," said the agent, adding that Chelsea will pay the French club around £4.1m. Barbosa is also quoted as saying Chelsea may loan Smertin to Premiership newcomers Portsmouth for a year.

Smertin, 28, has enjoyed a successful three-year spell with Bordeaux after joining them on a five-year contract from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2000.

The Russian expressed his desire to play in the Premiership earlier this year, but a proposed move to Newcastle United broke down.

Charlton's left-back Paul Konchesky, who had a transfer request granted by his club earlier in the summer, yesterday said he will be happy to stay at The Valley provided he is a first-team regular.

"I just want to play first-team football at left-back. And if I'm doing that at Charlton, there's no need to leave," he said. "People know I'm on the list and I'll see what happens from there. My relationship with everyone here is very good."