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Chelsea insisted Mark Hughes still has a future at Stamford Bridge yesterday, despite breaking their club transfer record with the signing of Pierluigi Casiraghi.
The European Cup Winners' Cup holders splashed out #5.4m on the Italian international in a four-year deal that reunites him with former team-mate Gianluca Vialli.
However, it was the future of former Manchester United star Hughes that diverted attention away from the capture of the 29-year-old striker from Lazio.
Casiraghi's arrival leaves the Blues spoilt for choice up front with player-manager Vialli, Hughes, Gianfranco Zola and Tore Andre Flo also fighting for a place in the side.
Hughes, ironically named by Casiraghi as one of his favourite players, is the oldest of the strikers at 34 and has already been forced to accept that he cannot command a regular place in the starting 11.
But Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson was adamant that Hughes is part of Vialli's plans for a serious assault on the Premiership next season.
And he revealed he would be holding talks with the Welsh international at some stage next week in an effort to resolve his future.
''Mark Hughes and I had a long conversation in Martinique last week,'' said Hutchinson.
''I talked to him this morning and he is fully aware of the situation. He realises that the club has to sign players.
''His situation will be looked at in about a week's time and I would like to stress Mark has one year left on his contract.
''There will be no moves to push Mark out of Chelsea. He has been a good servant of the club and still can be.''
The speculation regarding Hughes' future somewhat overshadowed the arrival of Casiraghi, who Chelsea have been tracking for over a year.
He had also attracted the interest of fellow Premiership side Blackburn, European Cup winners Real Madrid and Serie A side Palma.
The former Juventus and Lazio star was delighted to have put pen to paper before jetting off tonight on holiday where he will be forced to watch the World Cup on television, having been excluded from Cesare Maldini's squad.
''There was interest from other clubs but nothing official. This was the offer that pleased me the most and I am very pleased to have it signed and sealed,'' said Casiraghi.
''It was important that Mr Vialli was here and that was one of the reasons I decided to come. I played with Vialli for one year in Juventus and it was a great forward line.
''I know him as a player and not a manager but he is a great player, he has had some great results in his first season as a manager and I think he will be a great manager.
''It will be an objective for next season for us to put in a strong title challenge. I have been at Lazio for the last five years and with the changes that were going on it was time to have a change of scenery.''
Hutchinson also reiterated that another Italian star, midfielder Roberto di Matteo, was not for sale at any price, despite an approach from Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti while tying up the deal for Casiraghi.
''He broached the subject and he was told very bluntly that di Matteo is not for sale,'' said Hutchinson.
''He told me every player has his price, what is di Matteo's? I told him that he is not for sale at any price.''
Hutchinson also revealed that there had been several ''tentative approaches'' for Flo but they have also been turned down, and also that a possible deal for French international Marcel Desailly from AC Milan was still on the cards and that he could be meeting the midfielder next week.
q The transfer saga involving Chelsea and Brian Laudrup from Rangers is still on-going but Chelsea's lawyers have written to the European Commission, who in turn will contact all interested parties next week to tell Rangers that Laudrup is entitled to move without compensation and that the Glasgow club could face a fine of up to 10% of the value of the company if they don't comply.
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