Chelsea have confirmed they are on the brink of signing
Brazil international Mineiro as a replacement for the injured
Michael Essien.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been pressed into action following a
long-term knee injury suffered by Essien and is now close to
concluding a free transfer move for his countryman, who is
available outside the transfer window having left Hertha Berlin
over the summer.
Mineiro, 32, also reportedly had a trial with Arsenal recently
but it is West London where he will be plying his trade for the
2008-2009 season after agreeing to join The Blues as cover for John
Obi Mikel.
It is believed that the holding midfielder successfully
underwent a medical on Friday and Scolari’s assistant, Flavio
Murtosa, has confirmed that Mineiro is on the way to Stamford
Bridge.
“We have practically completed the recruitment of Mineiro,”
Murtosa told Radio Bandeirantes.
“He was available, out of contract with the German club, and at
this time we had the chance to hire him and satisfy our need [for a
new midfielder].”
Despite Arsenal’s possible need for midfield reinforcements,
Wenger has ruled out a move for Mineiro having already dismissed
suggestions that he could be poised to sign Ghanaian free agent
Stephen Appiah.
"At the moment we do not sign Mineiro - the questions [about
transfers] are endless here!," said Wenger.
"You have players who have no contracts who can sign anywhere
they want, but at the moment we are not on the verge of signing
anybody."
Mineiro has 25 caps for Brazil and is well known to Scolari
having spent the majority of his career in his home country with
teams such as Ponte Preta, Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo.
He joined Hertha Berlin for the 2006-2007 campaign and made 36
Bundesliga appearances in two seasons with the club.
