Chelsea boss Avram Grant has dismissed reports claiming Andrei Shevchenko will return to Milan in the summer.
Shevchenko’s future at Chelsea has been the subject of speculation for some time and the arrival in January of Nicolas Anelka has seen the Ukrainian drop further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Despite his struggles for form and fitness, Grant says he plans to keep Shevchenko next season.
“We want to keep the same squad for next year. I think he [Shevchenko] will stay,” Grant told The Times.
Questions over Grant’s own future were raised last week when chairman Bruce Buck refused to give his full backing to the Israeli.
However, Grant appeared unconcerned by Buck’s comments and says if the club are not happy with him he will walk away from Stamford Bridge.
“I have told all my owners that if the club at any stage are not happy they can tell me and I will go,” added Grant.
