THE £3million capture of France's World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps is a further sign of Chelsea's intention to make a big impression in the Champions League.

The 30-year-old midfielder is the latest name in an impressive cast list of internationals making a career for themselves at Stamford Bridge.

Deschamps joins fellow World Cup '98 winners Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf as well as the Italian internationals Gianfranco Zola and Pierluigi Casiraghi.

Chelsea believe their squad will be strong enough to cope with the rigours of a Premiership campaign and the Champions League assault.

But managing director Colin Hutchinson has pledged more big signings - Chelsea have already signed Mario Melchiot, a defender or midfielder, on a free transfer from Ajax.

Hutchinson completed the Deschamps deal while on holi-day in Cyprus and he has set up a special office in his hotel to work on other transfer negotiation. He said: "I think there will be quite a bit of activity coming in and, to a lesser extent, going.

"I have said many times, particularly with Europe and the Champions League, we need a bigger and stronger squad."

Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli has first hand knowledge of Deschamps' qualities as the pair were in the European Cup-winning Juventus side in 1996.

Deschamps - who will find his feet in London with closest friend Desailly for company - also won European soccer's biggest club prize with Marseille three years earlier.

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