Tuesday Mar 07 2006 08:35
Chelsea midfielder Alexei Smertin hopes that he will complete his transfer to Dinamo Moscow later this month.
The 30-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Charlton Athletic, but has not played for Alan Curbishley's side since last month's FA Cup fifth round victory against Brentford.
Smertin, who had also been linked with a move to Lokomotiv Moscow said: "Me and my agent Pedro Barbosa had talks with Dinamo last week and they were successful.
"There is a provisional agreement between Chelsea, Charlton and Dinamo concerning my move to the Moscow club. I'm going to Moscow to sign a contract.
"I hope all the formalities will be settled and I will play in the Russian Cup game against Krylia Sovetov on March 13.
"I admit I wanted to come back to Russia. That's why I'll be glad to move to Dinamo where many well-known former players play and Yuri Semin is the head coach."
Smertin moved to Chelsea from Bordeaux in a £3.45million deal in August 2003 but made only 16 Premiership appearances for the club.
He played 26 games for Portsmouth while on a season-long loan deal at Fratton Park last term and made 18 Premiership appearances for Charlton this season.
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