Having already secured the £32 million signing of highly-rated playmaker Eden Hazard, Chelsea look set to make another big money signing with Internacional’s Brazilian midfielder Oscar reportedly close to completing his move to Stamford Bridge.
The 20 year old, who is currently training with the Brazilian national side ahead of their opening Olympic game against Egypt in Cardiff on Thursday, has said a move to the Champions League winners would be “a dream come true”.
The dream move looks to be edging ever closer to reality, with Giovanni Luigi, president of Internacional, claiming last week that a deal for the midfielder had been agreed, with only minor technicalities left to resolve. The player has also reportedly undergone an examination with the medical staff at Stamford Bridge.
Despite the transfer appearing to be imminent, the player has declared that he will not confirm his future until the conclusion of the Olympic tournament, stating that he is currently “totally focused on winning the gold medal.” Nevertheless it would appear that it is a question of when rather than if the Brazilian starlet completes his move to the Premier League.
This latest signing would be another signal of intent from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who seems to have regained his appetite for big money signings following his team’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in May
In addition to beating off title rivals Manchester City and United for Hazard, Chelsea have also signed German winger Marko Marin, and continue to be linked with some of the biggest names in the global transfer marker.
Oscar’s compatriot and Olympic teammate Hulk is one of those most frequently linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and a deal could be moving closer as his club Porto have dropped their asking price from £56 million to a slightly more realistic £30 million.
Whether or not the two Brazilians end up at Chelsea, what is clear is that Roman Abramovich is once again willing to pay for the firepower that could drive the Blues on to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League once again.