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By MARK IRWIN

CHELSEA will not get into a bidding war with title winners Manchester City — despite their £50million Champions League jackpot.

We won’t start a war with Man City

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost Sergio Aguero to City last summer after they refused to meet the brilliant Argentine striker’s £200,000-a-week wage demands.

Now they are engaged in a tug-of war with Roberto Mancini’s team for Lille’s £30m-rated French playmaker Eden Hazard.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “There are a number of targets out there and we will make every effort to make sure they come to Chelsea.

“But with financial fair play about to come into effect, we will have a valuation on a player and if we can’t make that work we will drop out.

“At the end of last season I said I would not get into player bartering with any other domestic club. And that is still the view.”

Gourlay rejected accusations Chelsea messed up by losing long-term target Aguero, who went on to score 30 goals in Manchester City’s first League title-winning campaign since 1968.

He insisted: “We’ve got Fernando Torres and he is the man that we will go forward with. I’ve no doubt that Fernando is a world-class centre-forward for Chelsea.

“He’s a very, very important player and you will see him scoring many goals for us next season.

“I’m not at all worried by his form this season because we’ve just won the Champions League and Fernando Torres played his part in that.

“Every season we have brought in three or four new players and that will continue as we go forward.

“By winning the Champions League that process will be made easier.

“It’s up to the coach whether we sign a replacement for Didier Drogba.

“But let’s not forget that we already have Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, who likes to play through the centre as well.

“Next season we may well have two big-name centre-forwards scoring 25 to 30 goals for us. Maybe then we will improve on our sixth position in the league.”

Gourlay added: “Being in the Champions League again is massive. This year it’s worth about £50m.

“The Europa League winners get about £10m. It’s a huge swing. But it’s not just financial — it’s crucial to the image and the prestige of the club.”

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