This is turning out to be a fascinating summer for Chelsea. The West London club already secured the signing of Cesc Fabregas last month from Barcelona and have now bolstered their attacking department by signing Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.
Next priority – a quality left-back. And they are close to landing their long term target Filipe Luis, with reports from The Times claiming, the Brazilian defender had completed his medical yesterday before his potential £20m/€25m move to Chelsea.
Catalan newspaper Sport has published a report on Luis where they claim Chelsea have agreed to meet his €25m release clause. It is a ‘done-deal’ scenario. Luis is still made to train with Atletico, but will move to London as soon as the deal is made official.
Back in May, more precisely, after Chelsea’s Champions League defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the semi final, The Telegraph reported that the Blues have already agreed a deal to sign Chelsea duo Luis and Costa.
Since then the story has been regurgitated throughout the media, with El Confidencial reporting last month that super agent Jorge Mendes is master minding a move to take Luis and Costa to Stamford Bridge.
Furthermore, Marca claimed last week that the 28-year-old doesn’t hold an amicable relationship with Atletico any more while his body language/attitude in training was criticised as well. His release clause of €24m was proving an obstacle to get this deal done and there was a suggestion that Luis would ask the club to lower his release clause, in order to facilitate his move to Chelsea.
However, he is all set to join Chelsea while former Blues midfielder Tiago Mendes is likely to join him as well. In all probability, neither of the parties will disclose the amount paid for Luis, but I personally think, Chelsea won’t pay full €25m for his services. Atletico having already signed a replacement have no other options rather than to sell him, while Chelsea probably won’t pay such a hefty fee for a player who will turn 29 next month.
Chelsea meanwhile are looking to offload Demba Ba with Besiktas claim to have reduced the £10m valuation and are close to signing the Senegal striker. Patrick van Aanholt is also certain to leave Chelsea, having made only two appearances and spending most of the past five years on loan with other clubs.
Follow us on Twitter @soccerlens
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
