Sevilla's right back Daniel Alves will become a Chelsea player today. The Brazilian international has already agreed terms and will swap Spanish football for Stamford Bridge in a deal that should be worth in excess of €30 million.
Alves is determined that he will leave Sevilla only for London, despite the Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon inquiring about the full back. Calderon, though, will take comfort from the belief that Chelsea's securing Alves will allow Madrid to finally reach an agreement over the purchase of Arjen Robben, for whom the Spanish club have offered €30 million.
Madrid are desperate to force that deal through before the weekend. So far, however, their hopes have been unfulfilled.
Representatives of Chelsea joined Sevilla's director-general Jose Maria Cruz in Madrid last night in an attempt to finalise the deal for Alves. Cruz's role in major transfers at Sevilla is invariably limited to drawing up contracts. He does not become involved until the basis of a deal has been struck, with negotiations undertaken by the club president Jose Maria del Nido - a man famous for driving a hard bargain. Two summers ago, he made a €55 million profit on the sales of Sergio Ramos and Julio Baptista to Real Madrid, while last year he rejected a €23.5 million offer from Liverpool for Alves.
"I want to continue growing as a player and if that has to be somewhere else, then it will be somewhere else," Alves said. Sources close to Alves insist the full back is adamant he will join only Jose Mourinho's side and he has informed Sevilla of his intentions. The Brazilian has told friends that he has already agreed contract terms with Chelsea.
Madrid remain hopeful that a deal for Robben can now be brought closer. The Dutchman has told team-mates he wants to go to the Bernabeu, while strategic leaks from inside Madrid insist that his signing is a matter of hours away. The problem is, they have said that before.
Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez insists he will be making a dream reality tonight tomorrow night if, as expected, he makes his Manchester United debut. The Argentina forward is set to be involved for United for the first time away to Portsmouth after Wayne Rooney was ruled out for two months with a hairline fracture of his left foot. "It is a dream to wear the Manchester United shirt and it will also be a dream to win the title which we will all be working for this season."
Sol Campbell and Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes must pass fitness checks on groin injuries to see if they can play tonight.
Gabriel Heinze remains intent on joining Liverpool despite receiving an offer from Lyon. The French champions have indicated they are willing to pay United's €10 million asking price, but the Argentina defender is adamant that he wants to see through his legal battle to sign for Rafael Benitez at Anfield.
