Ronaldinho will join Chelsea... but not until July

He spent yesterday afternoon with his agent brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, in talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta in a desperate attempt to secure an immediate move to Stamford Bridge.

But a lack of time ahead of last night's closure of the transfer window denied Chelsea and the Catalan club the chance to reach an agreement and the 27-year-old double World Player of the Year will now make the switch next July. As Sportsmail revealed on Monday, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich spent last weekend in talks with Moreira in an audacious bid to bring the World Cup and Champions League winner to the Premier League.

But during informal discussions the two clubs were unable to agree a fee, Chelsea valuing the player at around 70million euros (£47.5million), but Barcelona demanding nearer 100m euros (£66m).

On Thursday night, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said they would not be signing Ronaldinho in what remained of the transfer window and made the point that it would be of no use to them to bring him over in January either. That was because, by then, he would be cup-tied for the Champions League, but Kenyon admitted that Ronaldinho was the kind of player Chelsea would like and said 'never say never'.

Now, it is understood, all parties accept it would be more prudent to delay for 11 months, although Ronaldinho is said to be frustrated because he was given a strong indication that Barcelona would be prepared to let him leave at the right price.

Yesterday he expressed that disappointment to friends but said he was now confident he would be a Chelsea player for the start of next season when a deal would be more attractive to the English club as he will only have two years left on his contract by then.

Meanwhile, Joe Cole, Andriy Shevchenko and any other wannabe Chelsea first teamers have been told to get in line and take their chance when it comes, just as Sean Wright-Phillips did.

Cole's unhappiness at not starting games surfaced this week, as exclusively reported in Sportsmail.

But Steve Clarke, manager Jose Mourinho's assistant, said Wright-Phillips was an example to follow adding: 'Sean had been used to being top guy at Manchester City and not having the same scrutiny of his performances. He came here and suddenly had to perform in just 20 minutes from the bench.

'He came on, didn't do very well and found himself out again. That was disappointing him gradually he picked it up and realised that in those 20-25 minutes, he has to impress. He has to impress every day in training.

'He's been doing that since January. Now he's one of our most consistent performers.'

Both Shevchenko and Cole are fit for the trip to Aston Villa tomorrow but may have to be satisfied with place on the bench.