Chelsea step up efforts to land Robinho

CHELSEA have stepped up the pace in their efforts to sign Real Madrid forward Robinho before the start of the season.

Vagner Ribeiro, the Brazil star’s agent, has admitted to holding talks with Chelsea officials and reports in Spain suggest the Premier League club are ready to splash out €35m to bring Robinho to Stamford Bridge.

“It’s true that Chelsea are interested in signing Robinho,” Ribeiro said. “They have been after him for a while and there has been much more contact since (Felipe) Scolari became the new Chelsea coach.