Kenyon says Chelsea want to develop their younger players

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack, 29, has already arrived at Chelsea and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, also 29, is now top of their wanted list.

Kenyon told Chelsea TV: "That type of player comes with experience.

"If we get Andriy I guarantee we will also have two exciting younger players that will be the future of Chelsea."

Young French midfielder Lassana Diarra is one of the few players to come through the ranks at Stamford Bridge in the last two seasons.

There will be a continued development of our youth - more Diarras - the best in their class at their age Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon

The 21-year-old, who arrived as a teenager from Le Havre in 2004, made seven appearances during the 2005-2006 campaign.

And Kenyon claims that, although Ballack and Shevchenko are the type of players the club needs to bring in if they are to build on their success in the Premiership, the aim is still for more youngsters to follow Diarra into the first team.

"We have evolved to the stage where we are back-to-back champions and we should not underestimate what an achievement that is, particularly in a domestic league like the Premiership," he added.

"How do you improve on that? It was felt what we wanted to do was bring in a different type of player. Michael Ballack fits that bill, the likes of a Shevchenko fits that bill.

"But there has not been a great shift in what we are wanting to do.