The versatile left-sided Russian international was recently named No.50 in FourFourTwo's 2008 Best Players in the World list, and saw his effort against Hamburg named the best goal of the 2006/07 Champions League by UEFA magazine Goal.
And after netting against Aston Villa in the UEFA Cup a fortnight ago, he has been linked with a £15 million move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, with temporary coach Guus Hiddink believed to have recommended the 25-year-old to, owner, Roman Abramovich.
Ex-Brazil international Zico - now in charge of CSKA - says he would not deny Zhirkov the opportunity to play his trade in the Premier League, saying he would be a success abroad.
"Zhirkov is a player of such high level, he would only show all his potential playing in such a strong competition as the English Premier League," he told The Sun.
"He'd easily fit into Chelsea's first-choice team. I don't like to lose him, but I won't stop his move to London."
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