Now Scolari turns to Silva
Silva: Hope to get more experience and raise his
profile.
SunSport revealed yesterday that centre-half Alex has
asked the Blues for a transfer. It is understood Alex, 26,
confronted boss Phil Scolari two days after he was left out of the
2-1 home defeat by Arsenal when Branislav Ivanovic played at the
back.
Scolari is now willing to let him go and will make a
nominal £1.2million bid for Fluminense star Silva, who will soon be
out of contract. The 22-year-old is a full international and rated
as the best young centre-half in South America.
He is also a target for Manchester City and Inter Milan
but Scolari is hopeful he can persuade him to move to Stamford
Bridge. Silva is desperate to sign for a big European club to stake
his claim for a place in Brazil’s World Cup team.
And he has the support of City superstar Robinho who
has already recommended him to his boss Mark Hughes.
Silva said: “It is inevitable that I will leave
Fluminense. “My plan is to play in the World Cup for Brazil and it
is important to be in Europe, to get more experience and raise my
profile.
“European football is different and I think it is
easier to be a defender there than here. “In Brazil, defences are
left without any protection, while in Europe the rivals are well
blocked before.
“My speed would be my best skill, I am very fast and
that is great for European football. I always watch European
football — English, Spanish and Italian leagues. They have also
started to show Manchester City games in Brazil because of
Robinho.
“He told me he was going to suggest me to City. It is
the best help you can get, coming from the star of the team. It is
a privilege.”
Meanwhile, Scolari has been told by Middlesbrough boss
Gareth Southgate to forget about landing striker Tuncay on the
cheap.
The Chelsea boss is keeping tabs on the Turkish ace,
who has been linked with an £8million January move to Stamford
Bridge.
But after Blues paid £16m for defender Jose Bosingwa
this summer, Boro boss Gareth Southgate insisted: “I’m sure there
will be interest in lots our players here because we’ve got some
good ones.
“It’s a good sign that we’re doing things right. “But I
was quite amused at the figure they put on his head ... the club
that was linked pay double that for full-backs!”
