Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has admitted that he is hoping to bring Benfica winger Simao Sabrosa to Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese international has long been a target for Liverpool who came close to snaring him last summer.
That deal ultimately failed to materialise as the two clubs were unable to agree a fee, but that is unlikely to be a stumbling block for the Premiership champions.
Mourinho is looking to freshen up his title-winning squad and began the process by unveiling Michael Ballack on Monday.
Simao could be the next arrival with the Blues coach revealing he is preparing to offload one of the four attacking wide-men (Joe Cole, Arjen Robben, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Damien Duff) already on the books at Stamford Bridge.
"Simao has the quality to play for Chelsea," Mourinho stated at the Portuguese Sports Press Association awards ceremony on Monday evening where he picked up the Portuguese coach of the year award.
"We have four fantastic players in that position, but one will leave this summer.
"Simao could arrive but we are still in negotiations with Benfica."
Mourinho could make it a double swoop on Benfica having also revealed he is in the market for an experienced third-choice goalkeeper.
Having dismissed the possibility of moving for either Ricardo (Sporting Lisbon) or Vitor Baia (Porto), he left the door open to Quim who is the current number one at Estadio da Luz.
Joaquim Manuel Sampaio Silva, or Quim as he is better known, has been at Benfica since the summer of 2004 and would seem to fit the bill for Mourinho who said: "We will get an experienced goalkeeper - someone who has already been there and done it and who will be calm when called upon."
from SSN
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Well i know this has nothing to do about Liverpool, but there is a hint that Mourinho would want to offload one of the wingers, so will Liverpool take SWP?
I heard that Mourinho is interested in loaning SWP to us with the option that he wont play against Chelsea.
any thoughts?
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