Chelsea In Talks To Sign Porto's Alvaro Pereira

New Chelsea boss Andres Villas-Boas looks set to raid his former club to sign Uruguayan left-sided winger Alvaro Pereira in a big-money move according to the player's agent, Alejandro Savich:

I know that the clubs are talking. This is a positive sign. What I know from Chelsea is that they are trying. One can only hope. It's a lie to suggest he has ever refused to play for FC Porto or taken some action. You know that Alvaro always gave everything. He's played more than one hundred games. This cannot be questioned. Right now, Alvaro Pereira is waiting while the clubs talk. We have not spoken with Chelsea because I'm not allowed to do so. It is essential Porto and Chelsea reach an agreement first.Alvaro has enough international appearances for Uruguay to play in England. But the fact that he doesn't have an EU passport compromises the interest of Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The London club have reportedly already had one bid turned down, and have now gone back in with an increased offer, closer to Pereira's contracted release clause fee of 30m Euros, and they hope to wrap up a deal for the 25 year old well before tonight's 11pm deadline. Several European giants including Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan have been credited with interest in the player, who can operate at wing-back as well as in more conventional defence and midfield roles, but Pereira's lack of an EU passport is likely to be too much of an impediment for any of those suitors to pursue him any further.