ROMAN: BUY A RUSSIAN

Roman Abramovich has told Big Phil Scolari to sign at least one Russian player this summer.

The billionaire Chelsea boss has given Scolari the choice between star striker Andrei Arshavin, left-winger Yuri Zhirkov, keeper Igor Akinfeyev or striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, according to sources in Moscow.

Main target Arshavin is due to meet Zenit president Alexander Dyukov to discuss his future.

Sources close to the player say he would reject a £4m-a-year wages offer to stay in St Petersburg.

Zenit spokesman Konstantin Sarsania said: “On Thursday, players from the national team return to our training camp.

“Arshavin and his agent Pavel Andreev are to clarify their position with us then. We do not want to sell Arshavin. That’s exactly why we need Andrei to meet the bosses of the club "– to understand what he is really after Zenit spokesman Konstantin Sarsania

“We do not want to sell Arshavin. That’s exactly why we need Andrei to meet the bosses of the club – to understand what he is really after.

“My understanding was that he would like to go and play abroad. But he isn’t only interested in moving to Barcelona.

“There’s also Chelsea. Andrei never rejected the idea of moving there.

“The Chelsea managers know the situation and have already talked to his agent.”

Arshavin said last night: “I can’t say anything yet.

“My future may be decided in the next day or may remain unresolved for another six months.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko cut short his summer break in the US to start training on his own a week early.

The Ukraine star is keen to impress new boss Scolari, who has told his Blues squad he plans to look at all of them before deciding if he wants to ship anyone out.

Shevchenko has employed a personal trainer to put him through his paces before joining team-mates to meet Scolari for the first time on Monday.

A pal of Shevchenko revealed last night: “He has come back a week early to work on his fitness. It is not because he isn’t fit – he kept in pretty good shape during the holiday. It is just because he wanted to get prepared for the new season under a new manager.

“Scolari, it seems, has said he wants to have a look at all ofthe players before making any

decisions, which is refreshing.

“Andriy definitely wants to stay at Chelsea and the rumours about a loan move to Barcelona I don’t think are true. It looks like he will be given the opportunity to prove his worth by Scolari.”

The pal stressed Shevchenko was working on his general fitness and was not currently using Darren Campbell.

Campbell, the 200m silver medal winner at the 2000 Olympics, helped Shevchenko sharpen up last season with some sprint routines.

The 31-year-old’s attitude looks sure to impress boss Scolari.

The 2004 European Footballer of the Year remains desperate not to be labelled a £30m flop at Stamford Bridge.

In two seasons at the club he has scored 22 goals in 76 appearances, including 23 as a substitute.