Matic set to rejoin Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Nemanja Matic looks set to become Chelsea's first signing of the January transfer window - potentially rejoining the club he left in 2011.

The Serbian midfielder had a frustrating first spell in West London, making just three substitute appearances under Carlo Ancelotti - before he was shipped off as a make-weight in the Blues' eventual capture of David Luiz three years ago.

But it is believed that Blues boss José Mourinho is a fan of Matic, and wants to add the Serb to his collection of central midfielders, with the Serb's representatives supposedly flying into London to finalise a deal.

Indeed, Portuguese newspaper O Jogo this morning said a deal was close to being announced.

Matic arrived in London in 2009 for a fee of around £1.5 million from Kosice, but after failing to make a case for himself in the club's Double-winning season, he was farmed off on loan to Dutch side Vitesse, where he impressed on a 12-month loan deal.

Matic featured against the Blues in both legs of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash between the two sides, and again in Amsterdam in 2013 as the Portuguese club were beaten by a Branislav Ivanovic header in the Europa League final.

With Michael Essien struggling for form and fitness and Frank Lampard out for the foreseeable future, Matic's impending arrival will help shore up an area where the Blues have been decidedly short in recent times - with Luiz, ironically, the man being required to feature there as a stop-gap option.

Though Serbia failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Matic featured in several of his nation's qualifiers, despite a public spat with coach Siniša Mihajlović, who later left his role due to Serbia's aforesaid failure to qualify.

Despite not quite being able to secure a berth at international level, Matic has established himself under Jorge Jesus at Benfica, making close to 100 appearances during his spell.

In three seasons in the Portuguese capital, the Serb has developed into one of European football's foremost talents in a defensive-midfield capacity, whilst his eye for a spectacular goal or two - including this spectacular effort against FC Porto last season:

The deal is expected to be announced very soon - and you can follow the very latest in Matic's transfer discussion thread.

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[sdrcfc 461]

Welcome back.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Would be really embarrassing looking at this thread in 3 weeks if he doesn't sign for us this window... but I hope he does

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Would be really embarrassing looking at this thread in 3 weeks if he doesn't sign for us this window... but I hope he does

He will sign, seems inevitable now!

[1chelsea 864]

Would be really embarrassing looking at this thread in 3 weeks if he doesn't sign for us this window... but I hope he does

He will sign, seems inevitable now!

Well I hope he sign but how is this inevitable??

[Special Juan 27,492]

Well put together Alex.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Apparently fee is 35m euros

This makes me almost don't want him back anymore

[Polo7 3,496]

He will sign, seems inevitable now!

Dont be giving us false hope......please dont

[Polo7 3,496]

Found this on twitter not sure if legit.

Jorge Jesus on Matic: "If Matic is leaving? I would be the last to know. We've always sold players and we have to live with it

[zolayes 14,489]

Apparently fee is 35m euros

This makes me almost don't want him back anymore

Its ok Roman is making Gourlay cough up the difference

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Found this on twitter not sure if legit.

Jorge Jesus on Matic: "If Matic is leaving? I would be the last to know. We've always sold players and we have to live with it

Rumor going around hard on Twitter and Google now, pretty much everything is confirmed. Only annoying thing is that fee, come on 35m for a CDM while we refuse to pay 60m for Cavani in the summer.

Its ok Roman is making Gourlay cough up the difference

Agreed

[Polo7 3,496]

Rumor going around hard on Twitter and Google now, pretty much everything is confirmed. Only annoying thing is that fee, come on 35m for a CDM while we refuse to pay 60m for Cavani in the summer.

January transfer windows.....bargains are rare. Hopefully this will see an end to Lampard in the pivot.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

So.. We've more/less paid £50m for Luiz?

[teignman 441]

So.. We've more/less paid £50m for Luiz?

Sigh, yes. I can already see the journos running wild with referring to DL as our "£50m Center Back" in their headlines.

[AKchelsea 10]

that goal...

[Mouri_Matic 560]

January transfer windows.....bargains are rare. Hopefully this will see an end to Lampard in the pivot.

Yeah every cloud has a silver lining I suppose. But what would just be even more piss taking is Lampard is retained while Ramires is dropped because Jose is in love with Frank. That would just be the cherry on an awful cake.

[Polo7 3,496]

Yeah every cloud has a silver lining I suppose. But what would just be even more piss taking is Lampard is retained while Ramires is dropped because Jose is in love with Frank. That would just be the cherry on an awful cake.

Surely even Mourinho wouldnt be that stupid......would he?

[teignman 441]

Its ok Roman is making Gourlay cough up the difference

Too bad. I was hoping Roman would hire a gang of toughs to find Arnesen and beat the money out of him for including Matic in the Luiz deal.