Representatives from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are to meet to discuss five potential transfers between the clubs.
The players in question are goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, left-back Filipe Luis, midfielder Tiago and strikers Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku, AS claims.
Atletico still hope to re-sign Courtois, having had the Belgium international for the past three seasons, but it’s felt it’s unlikely Chelsea will sanction his departure.
It was thought earlier this year that a deal could be done but that changed after the teams met in the Champions League semi-final, while Petr Cech’s injury problems are also a factor in the Blues’ desire to keep Courtois.
Keylor Navas of Levante and Malaga’s Willy Cabalerro are among the alternatives to Courtois but he remains Atletico’s first choice.
Atletico, meanwhile, insist if Chelsea want Filipe they have to meet his contractual release clause, despite the player suggesting he wants to leave Vicente Calderon and rejecting the offer of a new contract.
Tiago is a free agent and is expected to turn down an offer from the Middle East to sign a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge, having previously played there for a year between 2004 and 2005.
The chance to re-unite with Jose Mourinho is said to be at the heart of Tiago’s decision.
Costa’s move to London should be completed in the next few days now Spain’s World Cup is over. Chelsea delayed the transfer in case Costa was injured during the tournament but now he has come through unscathed, a €40m deal should be finalised.
Lukaku is one of two strikers Atletico want to sign this summer and a loan to Vicente Calderon has been mooted.
