Reports in France and Italy suggest that a deal is already in place for the Russian to join us from French club Bordeaux. They say a fee of £6 million will be enough to prise Smertin away from Bordeaux.

And Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud revealed: "(The situation) should unblock itself either at the end of the weekend or the beginning of next week. For him it's the same as us. It's not very nice.

"Now either he is definitely a Girondin (Bordeaux player) or he is not. We have procrastinated enough.

"Now the people who took him on this adventure must find a solution. He clearly indicated his desire to leave and we let him leave with everyone's agreement."

Is Smertin going to be the latest player to join Roman's Russian Revolution? Who knows- everyday we're linked with a new player, if we believed every rumour we heard then Claudio would have 78 champions, rather than the 22 he claims he already has!