Chelsea have launched a €20 million (£16.6 million) bid for Porto wing-back Alvaro Pereira, according to The Guardian.
The Uruguayan international would provide Chelsea with versatility as he can operate at either left-back or on the left of midfield. Despite having Ashley Cole at left-back, Chelsea are still willing to part with a large sum to acquire Pereira, after boss Ande Vilas-Boas instructed the blues to sign him, as he wants te replace the departed Yuri Zhirkov, who left Chelsea for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala
The wing-back has a buyout clause of €30 million (£26.25 million) and Chelsea’s initial offer falls short of that and may be rejected by the Portuguese champions who are reluctant to sell.
Porto are always open to selling but they demand a large fee for their star players. On Monday, last season’t top scorer Radamel Falcao, a player heavily linked to Chelsea earlier in the summer, completed a €40 million move to Atletico Madrid.
Pereira was a part of Uruguay’s Copa America winning side and was a key component in Vilas-Boas’ treble winning Porto team last year and the Portuguese tactician wants to be reunited with his former player.
But with Valencia winger Juan Mata on the brink of completing his £23.5 million move Chelsea, it will raise the question of where Pereira fits into the Chelsea side.
