The agent of Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved claims that England coach Sven Goran Eriksson is behind attempts to bring the player to Chelsea.

Nedved is reported to be considering an offer from Chelsea and, according to his agent Zdenek Nehoda, Eriksson was the man who recommended Chelsea try to sign the Czech international.

“The director general of Juventus Luciano Moggi, has told me that Chelsea want Pavel. For the moment Juventus have said no but Chelsea’s desire to sign him has not diminished and it seems that Eriksson continues to insist on signing him,’ Nehoda told Il Giornale

‘It is Eriksson who wants him and he knows Pavel very well because he managed him when Lazio won Scudetto.”

Eriksson has persistently denied rumours linking him with the manager’s position at Chelsea, but speculation that he will quit his job with England after EURO 2004, remain rife.

The 31-year-old Czech midfielder is contracted to Juventus until 2006.