Ron to join Rom?

Following the weekend's speculation that Ronaldinho could be on his way to Chelsea in a £100m deal William Hill are offering odds as low as 11/4 that the Barcelona playmaker will move to Stamford Bridge before the first day of next season. The Spanish champions slapped a £85m buy-out clause on the World Player of the Year when they renewed his contract three years ago and after he was granted Spanish citizenship this week, thereby freeing up another non-EU squad place in their side, Barcelona would be even more loath to dispense with the player. It has emerged, however, that the buy-out clause only applies to clubs from Spain, which has led to strong suggestions linking the buck-toothed wonder to a move to the Premier League leaders. After seemingly falling out of love with his side last season Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has apparently kissed and made up with manager José Mourinho on the understanding that the Blues will now play an expansive, attractive brand of football. And while Ronaldinho himself may be no oil painting there is no finer sight in football than to see Barça's No 10 with the ball at his feet. It has been reported that Abramovich is prepared to pay Barça £50m and the player as much again to lure him away from the Nou Camp. The Catalan club's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain has said that is "no chance" of the South American sensation leaving but the same sort of comments were made before Figo jumped ship to Real Madrid for a then world record £37m in 2000. Hills claim there is little possibility of Chelsea risking burning their fingers on yet another expensive signing. "Chelsea's record with high-profile superstar-type signings like Schevchenko, Ballack, and Crespo have not proved overly successful," said spokesman Graham Sharpe. "So one wonders whether this potential move is at the behest of Abramovich or Mourinho, and, if the former, perhaps it could spark another cold war between manager and owner." Hills go 5/6 that Mourinho will be Chelsea manager on the first day of next season and the same price again that he will not.