Chelsea are set to re-sign deep-lying Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica two-and-a-half-years after selling him to the Portuguese giants. Matic, 25, failed to win a first-team place at Stamford Bridge during his first spell with the Blues between 2009 and 2011. He has blossomed into a huge talent since, however, winning Portugal's top flight Player of the Year award last term. Sky Sports reports that Chelsea will pay Benfica £25 million for Matic and send winger Gael Kakuta on loan to the Estadio da Luz. He was used a makeweight in the deal that brought David Luiz to West London. Jose Mourinho has been short of options in the Blues engine room because of injuries to club stalwart Frank Lampard and summer signing Marco van Ginkel. The Special One has recently used Brazil defender Luiz in the holding role alongside compatriot Ramires or Nigeria's John Obi Mikel. Matic confirmed Benfica's emotional win over title rivals Porto was his last game for the club, and added to Portuguese newspaper A Bola:
"I want to thank everyone at the club and all the fans. Benfica will forever be in my heart. I played here for two-and-a-half years, gave my best at every training session, and now it is the right moment to leave. "I want to improve, I want to play in a better league and I want to go to Chelsea, a club I also love. I insisted on leaving because I think this is the right moment."
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
