Madrid to offer Portugal defender to Chelsea

We must admit that we do love a feisty transfer battle in the Football Transfer Tavern especially when it involves a world class player. We have our wish today after Metro reports that Manchester City and Chelsea are set to battle it out for Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao.

The report suggests that Madrid are ready to let the 24-year-old Portuguese star leave the Bernabeu in the near future and his availability has made the Premier League rivals sit up and take notice.  Both of the club’s were chasing Coentrao before he signed for Real from Benfica for around £27 million in 2011.

Coentrao has now reportedly fallen out with Jose Mourinho and that could see him departing the club with Mourinho’s old club Chelsea having a long-standing interest in the Portugal international.

The Blues will require a new left back with Ashley Cole likely to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season. Although they have Ryan Bertrand, who recently signed a new five-year deal with the Blues, is it thought that they want someone with greater experience for the meantime.

Elsewhere at City, Roberto Mancini is seeking a replacement for Gael Clichy who has failed to impress consistently enough after arriving from Arsenal.

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