Ronaldo flight gives Vieri bid lift-off

Abramovich is not known for his patience and saw an opportunity to speed up the process of making the Italy forward the diamond of his new- look team. Indeed, while other major European clubs have yet to make a significant signing this summer, the Russian has told his aides he wants all transfer business concluded by Friday.

The logic to his thinking is simple. Chelsea face a potentially difficult Champions League qualifier in August that will be the first big test for the club under new ownership. Defeat would mean the loss of £10m in revenue but worse for Abramovich is prospect of the humiliation of falling at the first hurdle in his football adventure.

Vieri's arrival moved a step closer yesterday when his agent Sergio Berti, was summoned to a meeting with Inter officials about Chelsea's bid and the details of any pay- off the player would receive.

Elsewhere in Italy, Abramovich's considerable influence was being exerted in two of the country's other footballing cities.

In Parma, a deal was being discussed to sign Romania striker Adrian Mutu as Vieri's partner.

Mutu has long been a favourite of Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who had attempted to help structure a deal that would have seen the player move to London regardless of whether the club changed ownership. Cash-strapped Parma have to sell and have placed a £14m valuation on Mutu. The player's agent, Andrea Pretti, confirmed the move yesterday when he said: 'I have spoken to Parma and Mutu is definitely available. He would love to talk to Chelsea and it is now up to them to make a concrete offer for the players.'

In Turin, an improved offer of £9.1m for Edgar Davids arrived at the offices of Juventus and the Holland midfielder is expected to undergo a medical in the next 48 hours. First, however, Chelsea must agree to match his salary of £3m a season after tax and persuade the player to move now rather than in a year on a Bosman free.

Damien Duff's departure from Blackburn Rovers is only a matter of time and there is every chance he will bump into Juan Sebastian Veron if Abramovich pulls off the raid for Manchester United's Argentina midfielder.

News that each new player has already been assigned a specific role in a new formation might come as a surprise but it shows that Abramovich is not funding a random search for talent.

Sportsmail can reveal that Ranieri plans to switch from the flat 4-4-2 formation that took them to fourth in the Premiership last season and replace it with the diamond formation so favoured by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson last season.

Davids would play as the holding midfielder, with Geremi on the right and Duff on the left. Veron would then be asked to link play with the strikers by taking up a position in the 'hole' behind them.

Such an attacking formation seems anathema for an Italian coach, but Ranieri is determined to show the world what he is capable of.

Abramovich need not ask the pilot of his plane last weekend for the autograph that was given to him by Ronaldo by way of thanks. He could, after all, get his signature for real next season.