VALENCIA CLINCH DESCHAMPS SIGNING

Deschamps is expected to sign a three-year deal at the Mestalla and his signing will be a big boost to the Valencia faithful who, after last term`s Champion`s League final defeat, have seen stars Claudio Lopez and Gerard leave the club in the close-season.

France`s World Cup and European Championship winning captain has been widely-expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, after a less-than-successful season at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old midfielder signed for £3 million from Juventus last summer but despite The Blues` FA Cup success and prolonged Champions League involvement he never quite made the impact Gianlkuca Vialli would have hoped for.

Deschamps would sign as a replacement for Gerard who moved to Barcelona in a £13.5 million deal earlier this month.

The former Juventus man had been linked with a move to Lyon, Monaco and Internazionale after Gianluca Vialli declared towards the end of last season that he would be looking to sell some of his older players - believed to be a reference to Deschamps and French compatriot Frank Leboeuf.