Jose Mourinho has revealed that Chelsea are on the verge of
signing Sevilla right back Daniel Alves in a deal worth £20million.
The Chelsea chief, who is fine-tuning his squad ahead of tomorrow's
Premier League opener with Birmingham, expects the Brazilian to
arrive before the August 31 transfer deadline.
Mourinho said: "The situation with Alves is not much different from
the situation with Arjen Robben, but the only thing I know is that
we want to make our squad better. "Right back is a position where
we feel we can improve, but that is not easy. We want a good player
and Alves is a good player. I don't know what the offer is or what
Sevilla are demanding because I don't ask. Chelsea will do a bit of
business in the last bit of August, but we are making a balanced
offer and not a stupid offer."
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido yesterday claimed to have
turned down two bids for Alves, but refused to say whether either
was from Chelsea, who are also in negotiations with Real Madrid
over the possible departure of Robben. The Holland winger is
struggling with a knee injury and is unlikely to figure against
Birmingham. Chelsea, who are unbeaten in 63 league games at
Stamford Bridge, will eclipse the record Liverpool set in the late
Seventies and early Eighties if they avoid defeat against the newly
promoted side.
"Arsenal were the last team to beat Chelsea at home in the League
back in February 2004 and although Claudio Ranieri was in charge
when they began their unbeaten run, Mourinho has been at the helm
for the past 57 home games. The Chelsea chief said: "If we draw
against Birmingham we can't celebrate, because we don't play for
records - we play for titles. If we can beat the record, then
respect to every Chelsea player who participated in this number of
games. I don't believe anybody thought four years ago that we would
come close to the record. To equal it is great, but to beat it is a
moment to enjoy and remember."
Chelsea will be without John Terry but Frank Lampard, who claimed
he is no longer in negotiations with the club over a new contract,
will lead the team in his absence.
