Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is poised to join Italian club Juventus on a one-year loan with the Serie A club having the option to make the deal permanent in 12 months time.

Mutu’s move came after Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told the Romanian that the arrivals of Mateja Kezman and Didier Drogba meant he was now fourth choice striker at Stamford Bridge..

His agent Ioan Becali said: “It’s 99% certain Mutu will sign with Juventus.”

“Mourinho told him the order this season would be Kezman, Drogba, Eidur Gudjohnsen and then him.”

Under the terms of the deal, Chelsea will make no contribution to Mutu’s wages while he is at Juve and the Italian club having an option to buy 50% of the player next summer for £6.6m.

Mutu joined Chelsea from Parma for £15.8m last August but after a promising start, injuries and loss of form saw him consigned to the substitutes bench for the later part of the campaign.