Chelsea close in on Ramires capture

CHELSEA are closing in on the signing of Benfica’s Brazil midfielder Ramires.

The Premier League champions expect to tie up a deal for the 23-year-old before the end of the week.

The deal for Ramires is believed to involve a £17 million (€20 million) fee, and the player is due to undergo a medical at Chelsea in the coming days. He would be the second addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad following the arrival of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool. Benayoun was officially unveiled yesterday.

Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira raised concerns about the prospects of the deal going through when he said: “Ramires staying at Benfica does not depend solely on us.”

But it is understood any fears of the deal hitting a stumbling block over third-party ownership are unfounded.

Kia Joorabchian, the football businessman who brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the Premier League, does not own any direct stake in Ramires.

Joorabchian helped to fund Benfica’s purchase of the hard-working Brazilian from Cruzeiro for around £6m (€7.2m) last summer.

Like any bank loan, businessman Joorabchian would expect to be repaid when the deal goes through with Chelsea but he has no direct input into the Ramires arrangement.

Ancelotti targeted Ramires and Benayoun after releasing midfielders Joe Cole, who replaced the Israeli at Liverpool, and Michael Ballack.

Benayoun feels he has settled in quickly at Chelsea, though he was quickly heckled by the rest of the squad when he launched into a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ for his initiation song.

Benayoun was far more productive for Liverpool last season than Cole was for Chelsea. Despite their similar styles, Benayoun wants to carve his own niche into Chelsea folklore.

“I don’t like to compare myself to another player, I come here to do my best and hopefully it will be good enough. Joe is in Liverpool, I wish him the best, I think he is a great player,” Benayoun.

“I feel very good. From the first moment they gave me a good feeling like I am already a long time here.

“I am enjoying every day and getting closer to everyone. I am sure I will have a great time here and hopefully we will be successful.”