Chelsea may be tempted by £15m for Gudjohnsen

Chelsea may be ready to sell their Icelandic striker, Eidur Gudjohnsen, for £15m.

Gudjohnsen's advisers have been seeking a two-year extension to his contract and this has triggered Chelsea into considering a sale, although Blackburn Rovers were rebuffed when they made an enquiry. However, several leading agents are casting around for a buyer.

Arsenal are keeping an eye on developments, but they would need to find someone to take their fringe strikers. Even the sale of Francis Jeffers, who was linked with Middlesbrough recently, would only raise around £4m.

Gudjohnsen is Chelsea's most saleable asset. His older striking partner, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, was available for around £20m, but the current depression among Europe's leading clubs has made any deal a non-starter.

The Blackburn manager, Graeme Souness, yesterday committed himself to the Ewood Park club for a further four years, signing a new contract to June 2006.

"Coming to Rovers has proved an excellent move for me and I have enjoyed every minute," he said. "This is a first-class club with a really bright future."

Souness also dismissed talk of a move to Liverpool for his winger Damien Duff, valuing him at more than £20m. "Unless we get a ridiculous offer Damien will be playing for us next year and the year after. It is going to take £20m-plus. If Rio Ferdinand is worth £30m then it must be the same for Duff."

Leicester City yesterday gave free transfers to their captain Matt Elliott, midfielder Dennis Wise and goalkeeper Tim Flowers as they attempt to cut their cloth for life in the Nationwide League.

Wise was sent home from a pre-season training camp last week after an incident in which Callum Davidson suffered a fractured cheekbone. But the club said the three players had been informed before they left for the tour and that the two matters were unrelated.