The English soccer team Chelsea may try to snatch midfielder Park Ji-sung away from rival Manchester United.

The Manchester Evening News on Saturday said Chelsea could enter the Park sweepstakes given its strong ties with his current team, PSV Eindhoven, and the higher transfer price expected for the player.

Park, however, has said he would like to play for United but will decide after discussing the issue with PSV coach Guus Hiddink soon.

PSV chairman Rob Westerhof says the team wants a huge transfer fee for Park. The Manchester Evening News said the likely figure could reach more than 18 million dollars, an amount easily within reach of Chelsea's deep pockets.

Chelsea on May 20th beat South Korea's pro champ Suwon Samsung, 1-0, in a friendly match in Seoul, and may seek to expand its presence in the Far East market through the talented Park.

The London-based team has bested United before in a bidding war for a PSV player. Chelsea hijacked former PSV striker Arjen Robben from United last season after offering 14 million pounds to United's eight million.

The daily said Chelsea has formed a friendship with PSV since signing two of the Dutch team's players, and that the English team's probable hiring as chief scout Frank Arnesen, who was PSV technical director for ten years, will also help efforts to get Park.

Arnesen is known for discovering such talent as Brazilian superstar Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Dutch scoring machine Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United).