Chelsea are within touching distance of the signing of Victor Moses from Wigan, with the Blues looking to tie up a deal in time for this Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City.
PA PhotosVictor Moses could be a Chelsea player in time for this Sunday’s Community Shield
• Blog: Should he stay or should he go?
ESPN can disclose that Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay contacted Wigan chairman Dave Whelan on Monday to try to thrash out an agreement, though the Latics rejected the latest offer for their prized asset.
However, it still appears likely that Moses, 21, will end up at Stamford Bridge as the Champions League winners are thought to be ready to pay Whelan’s asking price of £8.5 million after much negotiation.
The two clubs are not far apart in their current valuations and the former England Under-21 international, who now plays for Nigeria at senior level, wants to move to West London.
While losing Moses would be a major blow for Wigan, Whelan says he won’t stand in the player’s way providing the £8.5 million fee – down from an initial £10 million price tag – is met.
“I have spoken to Chelsea’s chief executive and they are easy to deal with, we have told them the price and they will come back and agree it or not,” Whelan told ESPN.
“We would much prefer the player to sign a new contract and stay but he wants to go to Chelsea and its a good club so we cannot stand in his way.”
Chelsea are also weighing up whether to make an offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Andre Schurrle, as Roberto Di Matteo looks to bolster his attacking options following the departures of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou this summer.
Schurrle would cost in the region of £25 million and provides a more realistic alternative to Porto striker Hulk, whose hefty price tag of close to €60 million remains an obstacle to any potential move to Stamford Bridge.
