Sven in 'new Chelsea talks'

Chelsea will open pre-contract negotiations with England coach Sven Goran Eriksson in January with a view to him taking over at Stamford Bridge next summer.

The club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich wants to head off approaches from other teams by tying Eriksson into an agreement, although the deal would be void if Chelsea win the Premiership or the Champions League this season under Claudio Ranieri.

FA officials are resigned to the probability of Eriksson quitting after the Euro 2004 Finals and Abramovich is determined to prevent the likes of Real Madrid, who also courted the Swede last summer, moving in when he becomes available.

Chelsea, who failed three months ago to lure Eriksson to Stamford Bridge immediately, intend to offer him a contract six months before he would be expected to start work. It is believed the agreement will include a possible retainer fee and a 'golden hello' payable when Eriksson is officially named as the club's boss.

As Eriksson's deal with the FA runs until July 2006, the Chelsea accord will take the form of a gentleman's agreement, as an official pre-contract would be in breach of his deal with the FA. The point, however, is to ensure that Eriksson can only go to Stamford Bridge if he leaves England.

Chelsea, Eriksson and his advisers have all refuted suggestions that an agreement is already in place and the England boss has accepted the possibility that Ranieri could yet make himself unsackable.