Chelsea
have announced that they have reached agreement with Atletico Madrid over a
fee for left-back Filipe Luis.
The 28-year-old Brazilian will complete a move to Jose Mourinho's team as
long as personal terms can be agreed.
Luis will give Mourinho the extra option he needs at left-back following the
departure of the experienced Ashley Cole, who was allowed to leave when his
contract expired at the end of last season and has signed a deal with Roma.
Cesar Azpilicueta ws preferred to Cole at left-back for much of last season
but is a right-back by trade and Luis's arrival may allow him to switch back
to his favoured side.
Luis was a key player for Atletico during their incredible 2013/14 campaign,
when they won the La Liga title for the first time since 1996 and lost to
local rivals Real in the Champions League final.
The former Deportivo man made 44 appearances over the course of the campaign
and many experts felt he should have been selected for the Brazil World Cup
squad but he was only named as a stand-by.
His potential move to London has been in the works for a while and the fee
will reportedly be in the region of £20m.
An Atletico statement read: "Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have reached an
agreement to transfer the rights of Filipe Luis, pending a medical with the
English club.
"The Brazilian player told our club at the end of the campaign about his
willingness to join the London side.”
Chelsea already have one former Atletico player in their ranks for the
upcoming season after forward Diego Costa signed a five-year deal on
Tuesday.
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