Alves has been a long-term target of Liverpool's Rafael BenitezCHELSEA have entered the race for long-term Liverpool target Daniel Alves.
Rafa Benitez will be furious at the prospect of seeing the £12million-rated Brazilian join one of his fiercest rivals. Sport can reveal that Blues academy director Frank Arnesen met the Seville star’s agent at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane last Friday. Alves, 25, who can play full-back or right-wing, was there as part of the Brazil squad and played in the 1-1 draw with England at Wembley. He has been a Kop target for the past year. But Benitez has not yet made an offer, as he waits for confirmation of his budget from Liverpool’s American owners.Real Madrid have also been chasing him and reports in Spain suggested they were close to doing a deal. Yet now Chelsea are confident they can nick him. Boss Jose Mourinho hopes to do so by offering Paolo Ferreira or Khalid Boulahrouz in exchange. Alves has won five caps for Brazil and does not require a work permit as he possesses Spanish citizenship. Despite being only 5ft 7in, he has a reputation as one of the hardest tacklers in La Liga and is seen as the man to fill the problem right-back position at Stamford Bridge.
Five men were used there last season — Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Lassana Diarra, Geremi and Michael Essien. Mourinho has also recalled full-back Glen Johnson from his loan spell at Portsmouth but believes the England Under-21 man has still to prove himself.
Ironically, news of ChelseaÂ’s interest came as Liverpool were admitting they expected to miss out again in the face of RealÂ’s apparent free run at the player. But Chelsea entering the fray is certain to enrage Anfield chief Benitez. He has had a running verbal battle with Mourinho since his first campaign on Merseyside three years ago.
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