Blues agree fee with Madrid for Geremi

Chelsea have agreed to buy Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Real Madrid for a fee of £6.9m (€10m).

Geremi, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough, is set to be the first player to sign for the west London club under new Russian owner Roman Abramovich - although the Stamford Bridge club have also agreed a fee, believed to be £6m (€8.7m), for West Ham full-back Glen Johnson.

Madrid were willing to sell as they have a plethora of midfielders following the arrival of England captain David Beckham at the Bernabeu.

Geremi was arguably Boro’s best player last season, chipping in with a number of important goals during an impressive loan spell on Teesside.

Barry Silkman, Geremi's English representative, is hopeful the deal will be completed over the weekend.

He said: “A fee of 10million euros has been agreed and terms will be finalised sooner or later – hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours they’ll be agreed.”

Silkman explained on Sky Sports News: “For him it’s a great opportunity – at Real maybe he wouldn’t be a regular. He enjoyed his time at Middlesbrough but Chelsea are the most up-and-coming club at the moment and that’s the one he’s chosen to go to.

“It looks like Chelsea are going to buy some quality players.”

Chelsea have been linked with several top stars since the arrival of Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge.

Juventus claimed to have turned down an approach for Edgar Davids yesterday while Inter Milan declared they had rejected a bid for Christian Vieri.

However, Silkman does not believe the arrival of the Russian and his millions will mean Chelsea will be paying over the odds for players in the future.

He said: “Chelsea won’t spend more than they believe a player is worth.

“Because clubs believe Roman Abramovich is ready to splash out a few quid clubs are asking extortionate money for players – but he won’t pay it.

“The market will not be smashed wide open, Chelsea won’t go over the top.

“The club want the best players they can get and want to become the Real Madrid and Juventus of England.

“If you’ve got the finance and the back-up and the coaching staff to do it - why not go for it?”

On Geremi, Silkman added: “He’s 24 and has probably got the best seven or eight years in front of him.

“He was outstanding at Middlesbrough for most of the season and is a proven Premiership player. I believe Chelsea have got a terrific deal.”