Chelsea are targeting Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles as they contemplate an improved offer for Luka Modric, according to the Daily Mail.
Liverpool are willing to sell Meireles to help balance the books at Anfield having spent £100m on new signings since January.
The Portuguese has been widely expected to move abroad, with Inter Milan and Juventus credited with an interest, despite an impressive debut season with the Reds in which he was voted the PFA Fans Player of the Year.
But Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas knows him well from their time at Porto and is keen on being united with the versatile player, who can operate across the midfield.
Liverpool want close to £12m for the 28-year-old having paid £10m for his signature last summer.
Villas-Boas wants more creativity from his midfield and sees Meireles as an ideal foil for main target Tottenham’s Modric.
The Croatian is likely to miss Thursday’s Europa League tie against Hearts through injury but Chelsea are pressing ahead in their pursuit.
The West London club are apparently putting together a £30million player-plus-cash bid for the unsettled midfielder, with Yossi Benayoun or Didier Drogba touted as part of the deal.
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