Chelsea close to completing Robinho signing

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER NEWS: CHELSEA EXPECT to conclude the protracted signing of Robinho from Real Madrid within 24 hours for a fee of around €36 million thus completing Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad-building for the season.

The clubs have remained in dialogue after the Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon visited the Spanish capital last week having seen two previous bids rejected by the Real president, Ramon Calderon. That stance has since softened, with Real close to securing Valencia's David Villa and Santi Cazorla of Villarreal as replacements for the Brazilian.

Robinho's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, confirmed yesterday that a deal is in sight, with the 24-year-old having initially been unsettled by Real's apparent willingness to include him as a makeweight in any deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The forward, who was on the bench for Sunday's Spanish Super Cup win over Valencia, is expected to sign for €90,000 a week, twice what he earns at the Bernabeu.

"A deal is about to be reached," said Ribeiro. "Robinho's time in Spain has come to an end. He is looking forward to being part of a new project."

Calderon had felt he could not afford to lose Robinho this summer, especially after initially stating that the Brazilian would not be permitted to depart with two years of his deal remaining.

Yet his hand has been forced, not least by Robinho's public declaration that he is intent upon leaving. A successful spin campaign by the club has since seen Real fans turn on the Brazilian, accusing him of being a mercenary who never justified his lofty reputation. A poll yesterday indicated that over 85 per cent of supporters are in favour of a sale.

Calderon has also moved to placate the head coach, Bernd Schuster, by bidding for Villa and Cazorla, both members of Spain's victorious Euro 2008 squad.

Real had a €47 million bid for Villa turned down on Sunday but will increase that to €50 million. Valencia president Vicente Soriano had promised he would not sell but his club is crippled by debts of over €250 million and the board is encouraging him to sell. Cazorla should be a simpler deal as the midfielder has a buy-out clause of around €12 million.

Robinho's arrival at Stamford Bridge is likely to prompt Shaun Wright-Phillips' departure to either Manchester City or Everton. Andriy Shevchenko has already returned to Milan, initially on a season-long loan but with a view to a permanent deal.

"We never talked about Kaka while negotiating over Shevchenko," the Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani pointed out. "We have said over and over again that Kaka will not be leaving."