AC Milan have offered Ukrainian striker Andrei Shevchenko a new two-year contract in an effort to put Premiership champions Chelsea off signing him.

Jose Mourinho is determined to bring the Ukrainian to Stamford Bridge, but the Portuguese manager has accepted they have a major battle on their hands.

Shevchenko is currently contracted to AC Milan until 2009, and if the Ukranian striker did sign an extended deal it would mean that Chelsea have lost their man.

Shevchenko recently admitted that he was considering his options, and The Blues' spending power could yet prove decisive.

Last weekend Shevchenko watched AC Milan’s final game of the Serie A season against Roma on the terraces with The Rossoneri fans, which gave an indication of his love of the club, and it may be that it would be too hard for him to leave the Serie A giants.

“Shevchenko's future is at the heart of every Milan fan and it's for this very reason that Milan have proposed to Andrei a contract extension until 2011,” read a statement on the club's official website.

“In practice, another five years at the club would mean he would end his career in the Rossoneri colours and that would be a dream come true for the Milan fans.”

Milan have already said that the only way that they would be willing to release Shevchenko would be if he asked for a transfer personally. Milan’s owner, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on the AC Milan website: "I hope he stays."

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