Maicon close to sealing £6million Chelsea switch

Chelsea are closing in on a £6 million deal for Inter Milan full-back Maicon, with the Brazilian's agent due in London later this week for talks.

As Metro revealed last week, The Blues have made signing a new right-back a key priority this summer after veteran defender Paulo Ferreira was placed on the transfer list, and compatriot Jose Bosingwa was released at the end of his contract.

Manager Roberto Di Matteo had drawn up a four-man shortlist of potential recruits, including Dortmund star Lukasz Piszczek, Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel, Lille's Mathieu Debuchy and Manchester United youngster Rafael da Silva.

However, after being priced out of a move for the quintet, Di Matteo has now moved for Brazil international Maicon, who has been told he can quit Inter Milan this summer for a small fee.

The 30-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best full-backs in European football, and is now expected to seal a move to West London in the next fortnight after Chelsea agreed a £6 million fee with Inter.

Maicon's agent is due in England later this week to thrash out the formalities, after the player rejected interest from long-term admirers Real Madrid.

Chelsea are due to hand Maicon a three-year-deal, with wages of around £80,000-a-week. Elsewhere, Chelsea are also closing in on Southampton teenager Luke Shaw, after lodging a £4 million bid for the England Under-17 international last night.

Shaw, a talented and technical left-back who can also play in midfield, has previously been tracked by Arsenal.