By Richard Morgan
Chelsea have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder Deco, a move that has raised fresh doubts over the future of England international Frank Lampard.
The playmaker, who has won 56 caps for his adopted country Portugal, was photographed leaving Stamford Bridge earlier this evening having completing his medical and agreed personal terms with the west London club.
Although neither Chelsea nor Barca have commented publicly on the transfer, it is understood that Josep Guardiola, the new coach at the Nou Camp, had deemed Deco surplus to requirements in Catalonia, along with the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, and that the player has signed a two-year contract that will cost Chelsea €10 million.
The deal is new Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's first signing since he replaced Avram Grant at the Bridge earlier this month.
The two men know each other well from their time working together with the Portugal national side, with Scolari even handing the Brazilian-born Deco his international debut for Portugal prior to Euro 2004.
However, his arrival will mean a midfield conundrum for Scolari to solve as of next season, with the likes of Lampard, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel in which to chose from, unless as expected Lampard makes the move to join his mentor Jose Mourinho at San Siro.
"It is good for me to be here and first of all I am very happy to be here," Deco said.
"I am sure I have come at the right time to do great things and be able to help Chelsea go back to the way it was and come back to being the first one, not only in England but also to win the Champions League that has been their dream for so long.
"The Premier League is a great league and it is getting better and you can see that with the Champions League Final, where you had two English teams.
"It is great that we have so many great players here at Chelsea and it is great that there is the competition which is healthy for everybody and this just makes the team better.
"To have great players in any position of the club just enhances the club.
"I know it is a new challenge but I am looking forward to it.
"I know I need a little bit of time to adapt bit but I am sure I will adapt quite well and quite fast and do my best for the team."
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
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