Valencia aiming to close deal to sign Chelsea's Del Horno

MADRID, July 17 (Reuters) Valencia are close to agreeing a deal to sign Chelsea defender Asier del Horno, the Primera Liga club's president said today.

''Things are at an advanced stage,'' Juan Bautista Soler was quoted as saying on the club's webpage on Monday. ''We are waiting for Chelsea to send us some documentation and to finalise an agreement with the player.

''We are trying to make sure he will become a Valencia fullback but we have other options as a back-up. He is a player that meets with the approval of the coach and the sporting director.

''If we can sign him it will be fantastic.'' Del Horno joined Chelsea on a three-year contract from Athletic Bilbao for 12 million euros (15.04 million dollars) last June, but failed to live up to expectations during his first season with the English champions.

The 25-year-old left back hit the headlines when he was sent off for a wild challenge on Barcelona forward Lionel Messi during Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League first knockout round in February.

He was selected as part of the Spain squad for the World Cup but had to withdraw at the last minute after suffering a recurrence of an Achilles tendon problem.

Valencia president Soler played down suggestions that the club would sign Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo who has been linked with a move to Spain in recent weeks.

''It's a utopia, a dream and a challenge to try and bring one of the pearls of world football to Valencia but we are making the first moves,'' he said. ''It will be very difficult, though.'' REUTERS PKS PC2158