Having been beaten to signature of Glen Johnson, Chelsea are reportedly tracking Inter Milan full-back Maicon, and the Brazilian appears to be open to the idea of moving to Stamford Bridge.
Maicon has been a long-term target of Real Madrid but Chelsea are also thought to be weighing up a bid after Johnson snubbed a return to the Blues in favour of joining Liverpool.
New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has clearly identified the right-back position as an area of his squad that could be improved.
The 27-year-old Maicon would likely command a fee in the region of €22million and should Chelsea lodge an offer, he would not be averse to talking over a potential move to England.
"If an attractive offer comes in, well, in this world, everything is bought and everything is sold," Maicaon's agent Antonio Caliendo said in Calico Mercato.
"I believe Ancelotti is one of Maicon's biggest admirers.
"He is open to offers from everyone.
"(Inter president, Massimo) Moratti is taking the right decision to assess the bids.
"Maicon is happy at Inter, but the transfer window lasts a long time,” he added. "Something can happen every day, but for now there has been no decision."
AC Milan, meanwhile, have reiterated no offer has been made by Chelsea or any other club for Italy international Andrea Pirlo.
The World Cup-winning playmaker has been strongly linked with reunion with former Milan coach Ancelotti.
“We have not received any offers for Pirlo, not from Chelsea or any other club,” said AC Milan club administrator Adriano Galliani.
Galliani also brushed aside rumours in the Spanish press that they are eyeing Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago as the ideal replacement for Pirlo.
“Pirlo is a Milan player,” said Galliani. “Hence, Gago cannot be our aim.
“If Pirlo leaves then we will see.”
However, Galliani revealed the Rossoneri outfit turned down a tempting offer for Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato.
“Milan this year has resisted a monumental offer for Pato,” he said. “But I will not say which club made the offer.”
Pato had been a reported target of Chelsea but Milan have stated that the player is not for sale.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)