Bogarde: £7.2m for four games!

When he arrived on a free transfer from Barcelona in August 2000, on the same day that defender Emerson Thome was sold to Sunderland for £4.5m, it was hailed as a masterstroke, but those involved have since distanced themselves from the deal. Former chief executive Colin Hutchinson insists that he brokered the transfer with the consent of then manager Gianluca Vialli, but the Italian denies any involvement.

Vialli said today: "I was very unhappy about the signing of Bogardeand had nothing to do with it. I was due to go to Italy for two days. Before I went away Colin told me he was thinking of selling Thome, but I told him I did not want to sell.

"When I came back two things had happened. Colin had sold Thome and bought Bogarde. I never wanted Bogarde and made that clear."

Hutchinson disagrees. He said: "Like all the transfers during Luca's time here the signing was carried out with his (Vialli's) full knowledge and authority. To suggest anything else was the case is absolute nonsense.

"At the same time, we were trying to sign Gareth Southgate from Aston Villa. But it was impossible to do a reasonable deal with Villa so we switched our attentions to Bogarde."

Whatever the truth, it soon became apparent that no one at the club had much regard for their latest signing. Vialli was sacked two weeks after Bogarde's arrival, marking the beginning of the end of his Chelsea career.

Ranieri dropped the Dutchman for his first game in charge, a 3-3 draw at Manchester United, and has ignored him ever since. He did not appear at all during the 2001-2002 season and was not given a squad number for the current campaign.

Despite making just one appearance in more than two-and-a-half seasons Chelsea have made little attempt to offload Bogarde.

Hutchinson said: "It does amaze me that while I've been gone two years now Winston hasn't moved out on loan. I'm also surprised Chelsea haven't offered to subsidise his wages to make this happen.

"This would get him out and in the shop window. He certainly needs to do that, so he can get on with the rest of his career."

Chelsea's response is that their hands are tied as the player is determined to sit out his contract. Bogarde made noises last summer about reaching a settlement but the club made it clear they were unwilling to pay him off up front. Abramovich has been briefed on the situation but feels powerless.

A source close to the Russian said: "Roman is aware of the problem but there's nothing we can do. He hasn't got a squad number and isn't going to play, but we can't cancel his contract. He's getting paid a lot of money and isn't just going to accept a pay cut."

Chelsea great Ron Harris believes Bogarde cannot be blamed for seeking to make the most of his lucrative contract and blames the system for the fiasco.

Harris, who was also a right- back at Stamford Bridge, said: "The Bogarde thing is unfortunate for the club but it's difficult to throw all the blame upon the player. Chelsea offered him the deal and he wasn't going to say no, was he? It's the system that's wrong, isn't it?"

Ranieri has always denied suggestions of a rift with Bogarde but he has little time for his fringe players.

Unlike other managers, most notably Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, the Italian has no desire for control over the entire club and restricts himself to coaching the first team.

Consequently Bogarde enjoys a very relaxed regime and his presence is rarely required. He has played just twice for the reserves this season, though would have appeared against Nottingham Forest on Monday had the game not been postponed, and frequently trains just three days each week.

Although still friendly with his former Holland colleagues Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Melchiot he is very much a loner.

At least he can watch his bank balance grow ever larger.