🇧🇷 Filipe Luís

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10802441/Chelsea-close-in-on-deal-to-sign-Atletico-Madrid-left-back-Filipe-Luis-raising-doubts-over-Ashley-Coles-future.html

Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign the Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis which will raise further questions over Ashley Cole’s future at the club.

If, as expected, Chelsea complete the move to sign Filipe – who would cost around 20million euros (£16.5million) – it may also be a clear sign that they expect Luke Shaw to join Manchester United. United are planning a £27million bid for the 18-year-old Southampton left-back.

Interestingly United have also scouted Filipe, as a replacement for Patrice Evra, with Atletico making it clear they would only listen to offers for the defender this summer.

Filipe is expected to be joined at Chelsea next season by Diego Costa with the Stamford Bridge club having used Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final tie to continue negotiations with Atletico. Talks are believed to have progressed significantly to the extent that, according to sources, both moves have been agreed.

A third Atletico player, albeit one already owned by Chelsea, goalkeeper Thibault Courtois is also now expected to return to the Premier League club next season and no longer remain out on loan.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will keep Petr Cech but believes that Courtois, 21, is ready to challenge for role as first-choice goalkeeper having spent three seasons on loan in La Liga. Courtois is expected to sign a new contract extension with Chelsea, who is yet to play for, and it had been thought that he might be loaned out for one more campaign but Mourinho is now thought to want him back.

Costa wants to move to Chelsea, who are happy to meet the £31.5million buy-out clause in the striker’s contract and will also meet his personal terms.

The powerful 25-year-old striker has been Mourinho’s main target for some time with the Chelsea manager determined to overhaul their forward line summer. Samuel Eto’o contract expires at the end of this season and it seems inconceivable that Chelsea will not encourage bids for both Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.

It remains possible that Torres could return to Atletico while there also remains the expectation that Chelsea will also listen to offers for Romelu Lukaku who has spent this season on loan at Everton. Everton would like to sign the striker permanently but have been quoted a fee of upwards of £20million and face competition from other clubs.

Chelsea are also interested in signing the Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic with the Croatian understood to be keen to quit the German club who are signing Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund. Chelsea scouts have been spotted watching Mandzukic in recent weeks.

Costa, like Felipe, was born in Brazil but has been a naturalized Spaniard and will represent Spain in the World Cup. Luis, 28, has represented Brazil but does not figure in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s plans for this summer. Although Felipe is Brazilian he has a Polish father and his full name has the surname Kasmirski.

Felipe can also play further forward but has been used by Atletico coach Diego Simeone as a left-back and impressed in both legs of the semi-final tie against Chelsea which the Spanish side won to set up a final later this month against Real Madrid.

Felipe has previously played for Real Madrid B and Deportivo La Coruna having originally moved to Europe from Brazil to join Ajax on loan in 2004.

Cole’s contract at Chelsea is due to expire this summer and although the 33-year-old is keen to agree a new one-year extension, and a deal is expected, he has lost his first-team place this season to Cesar Azpilicueta who has moved across to from left-back.

Mourinho, however, has made signing a new left-back as well as buying strikers his priority when the transfer window opens.

[iseah100 5,612]

Atletico Chelsea:ph34r:

[quickpassnmove 924]

mediocre player and not young; don't care to see him at SB.

[Fernando 6,585]

I thought we was buying young players?

I still rather buy Shaw then him.

[JDY 1,290]

Good going forward and defensively fantastic. I'd have no complaints.

[Namika 922]

mediocre player and not young; don't care to see him at SB.

Mediocre player ?

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Terrible signing especially for our new policy. Good but not young and usually injured quite a few times each season as well. Might as well add £10m more for Shaw.

[Namika 922]

I prefer a Filipe Luis for £16M who has proved his value in the biggest stage than a Luke Shaw £30M.

[Pizy 18,909]

Isn't he nearly 30? Doesn't really fit the profile of player we'd be after these days.

Is it "link Chelsea with every Brazilian player week" or something?

[Jase 43,479]

Not too sure about this TBH. Would rather spent £30 million on a 19-year old LB who can serve us for the next 15 years rather than £16.5 million on a 29-year old LB who would probably only serve us for 3-4 years at the highest level.

[The Mak 4,459]

Shaw or GTFO.

[Cosmin 2,484]

Are we really after young players? I mean... Eto'o.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I always said Mou will look after TROPHIES next season. No way he will get young LB...Shaw might be only choice because he is already used to play in PL and english (Mou likes english players). Since Shaw is super expensive, I can see Mou going after Filipe Luis.

Might not be young, but this guy is by far best full back in spain, and one of best in europe too.

However as said, not youngest and will probably get injured after such difficult season (along several other Atletico players), just like BVB suffered last year (Gundogan, Pisczek, Schmeltzer, Subotic, Hummels, Reus, Kuba,...)

[sdrcfc 461]

Filipe isn't that old, he'll still be playing for around four more years. He'd work well with Courtois, and Costa, if both are brought in come the new season. As much as I'd like us to sign a young LB such as Shaw, I wouldn't mind Chelsea paying 20m for one of the best left-backs in the world. Hopefully he'll play ahead of Marcelo at the World Cup.

[mediator 2,026]

we are linked with a 20 years LB from porto, in loan in Serie A

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2617770/Juan-Iturbe-targeted-Liverpool-Chelsea-Tottenham-Premier-League-giants-send-scouts-watch-Verona-winger.html

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Mourinho relies so much on his defence and I really can't see him replacing Terry or Cole with some youngsters. It's the back line we're talking about, the most important part in Mourinho's philosophy and he will always look to bring world-class/proven players in that area.

Zouma, Kalas, Omeruo - talented lads with a bright future, but too young for a Mourinho back line. They have to be very patient and wait for their chance in the first team, one that I'm afraid won't come soon enough.

Remember Mourinho in his Inter and Madrid days - he sometimes used to play every three days and, even though he rotated his midfielders and attackers, the back line remained the same every time. That's one part of the pitch he likes to have total control in it.

That's why I think this isn't a BS rumour. Filipe is a proven left back, very good offensively, but very disciplined defensively, as well. I really think he is one of the three best left backs in the world, right there with Marcelo and Alaba.

[Strike 7,489]

was fantastic vs barca

[Ze Mario 638]

if baines didnt extend his contract last January, we should buy him instead of felipe. damn! baines slightly better than this guy imo

[The Skipper 20,609]

He's not bad, but as some have said above, if we're going to spend €20m on a LB that's 29 then we might as well add the extra millions to get Luke Shaw.

[blu35_army 551]

Shaw or RR,,attacking LB minded with good crossing skill...