Chelsea close in on £20m Filipe Luis signing
The Brazilian left-back is set to line up at Stamford Bridge next season alongside Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa following negotiations between the two clubs
Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis.The Londoners have told the Spanish champions they willl pay the €25 million release clause in the 28-year-old's contract.
Chelsea are confident that Luis is keen to join them and line up alongside current team-mate Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge next season.
Manager Jose Mourinho has already bolstered his squadby signing Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona and a deal worth up to €43m for Costa is expected to be completed imminently.
Chelsea have money to spend following the combined €65m sales of Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne in January, and by off-loading David Luiz to Paris Saint-Germain for an initial €50m this summer.
Brazil international Luis has been targeted by Mourinho to replace Ashley Cole, who will leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer when his contract expires this month.
Losing another key figure in Atletico's title triumph is a blow for the Spanish club's manager Diego Simeone. But the Champions League runners-up were prepared for the defender's departure and have already signed his replacement, with fellow Brazilian Siqueira joining from Granada last week for €10m.
Mourinho had moved for Southampton's Luke Shaw to fill the left-back slot that was taken by Cesar Azpilicueta for the second half of last season.
However, the Londoners were not prepared to match the €200,000-a-week offer tabled to the player by Manchester United, who are confident they have wrapped up a €33.7m deal for the England international.
Chelsea and Atletico have also been negotiating the future of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has spent the last three seasons on loan in Madrid.
It is understood that the manager is keen to promote Courtois and encourage long-serving No. 1 Petr Cech to find a new club.
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