Duff was boarding a plane at Manchester Airport to head off on Blackburn's pre-season tour to Washington.

But then Rovers accepted Roman 'Chelski' Abramovich's FOURTH mega-bid for the Republic of Ireland wing wizard, who did a swift about-turn and dashed off for talks.

The Londoners are also waiting to see if a £14m offer for Deportivo La Coruna striker Roy Makaay will be successful.

Bayern Munich had hoped to land the Dutch ace for £12.5m, but Chelsea aim to pip them by including Jimmy Floyd Hass- elbaink in their package.

Makaay is currently thinking over his future on holiday in Holland. He is believed to favour a switch to England rather than Germany because that is what his wife would prefer.

Duff can look forward to a double-your-money pay deal of £70,000 a week to join Red Rom's Stamford Bridge revolution.

The 24-year-old ace has been claiming he would prefer to stay at Ewood Park. But new Chelsea owner Abramovich is not used to rejection and the player knows he cannot afford to snub this chance- of-a-lifetime transfer.

Duff's exit for the capital will be a blow to Manchester United, who had also been after him.

He will join £6m West Ham and England Under-21 full-back Glen Johnson and £6.9m midfielder Geremi in the Londoners' new-look squad.

Duff's ability to create goals would be perfect for 28-year-old European Golden Boot winner Makaay, who hit 42 goals last season including nine in the first two phases of the Champions League.

Deportivo would love Hasselbaink in exchange, but cannot afford his £70,000-a-week wages.

To help out and speed up business, Abramovich has offered to pay the player's salary for his first year in Spain. Hasselbaink, 31, is said to be happy to return to the country where he banged in 30 goals for Atletico Madrid before joining Chelsea in June 2000.

Abramovich has moved for Makaay because he now knows Christian Vieri is unlikely to leave Italy and Patrick Kluivert is staying at Barcleona.

Bayern already look resigned to losing out to the man with the fattest cheque-book in football.

Angry coach Ottmar Hitzfeld insisted: "We are in the comfortable position that we have enough top strikers even if Makaay won't come."

Geremi is poised to become Chelsea's latest free-kick king, having completed his move from Real Madrid last night.

The Cameroon international, 24, has a five-year contract and is already dreaming of replacing hot-shot Gianfranco Zola.

Geremi told Chelsea TV: "I know Zola was one of the finest at delivering set-pieces. But I will do my best to do the same."

There was further good news for the club when Eidur Gudjohnsen signed a new three-year deal.

Midfielder Jody Morris, 24, will join First Division new-boys Cardiff today on a Bosman free.