Who wants Veron?

Indeed, the player's agent also seemed more up to speed with events than Ranieri.

Veron's representative, Fernando Hidalgo, said: 'He (Veron) will talk to Ferguson because he wouldn't want to leave if the manager still sees a future for him at the club. The talks planned between Veron and Ferguson will be critical as to whether Chelsea's interest comes to anything.'

Thus, Ranieri appears to be at the back of a queue of people - namely Abramovich, Zahavi, Ferguson and Hidalgo - who seem to have the inside track on Chelsea's bid for Veron.

How could it be possible that the manager would be uninformed about such potential signings?

Is it possible Abramovich is simply not telling Ranieri who he intends to buy? And is the Italian prepared to endure such a situation if that is the case?

The transfer mystery adds further weight to the rumours that it is not Ranieri who is compiling the list of talent required to transform Chelsea into a side who can challenge Manchester United or Real Madrid for the title of the world's biggest club.

Such a scenario can only fan the flames of recent speculation that the club are being steered by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

The most conservative of observers feel there is a distinct possibility that Eriksson, a huge fan of Veron, will take over at Stamford Bridge after next summer's European Championships in Portugal. Some even suggest Eriksson will desert England following their match against Turkey on October 11.

Whoever is behind the moves, it remains clear that Chelsea would prefer to complete the signing of Blackburn's Damien Duff before they turn their sights on the United midfielder.

Should they end up paying for Veron first, it would swell the Old Trafford coffers to such an extent that they, too, could enter the fray for the Republic of Ireland winger.

And although Duff and Veron would be useful additions to the London club's squad, they do not represent the blockbuster summer signing Abramovich desires in order to signal Chelsea's intentions to the football world.

Those plans took a further knock yesterday when two major targets, Edgar Davids of Juventus and Barcelona's Patrick Kluivert, looked set to remain with their present clubs.

Abramovich is thought to have offered £11m for Davids, who has a year to run on his contract, but Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi said: 'We have not accepted an offer from Chelsea. Davids is not for sale and he will remain at Juventus next season.'

Fellow Dutchman Kluivert, meanwhile, signalled his intention to remain in Spain.

Following discussions on Monday, Barcelona spokesman Txiki Begiristain told the club's official website: 'Patrick's agent told us that he wants to play here next year. We've offered to either extend his contract or fulfil the terms of our present agreement.

'If we extend it, then we'll be looking for a contract according to the new criteria we've been applying across the board. We've asked for a reply as soon as possible, preferably before Thursday as we'd like to have everything tied up before pre-season training. We know he's interested and the technical staff are keen to have him here, but there's nothing definite yet.'

His representatives were positive about the talks and Kluivert told journalists: 'I want to stay.'

Clearly, the building of a Dream Team is not the formality it appeared for whoever is pulling the strings at Stamford Bridge.