Chelsea 'planning Pepe transfer bid'

New Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas is looking to bring in another centre-back to provide more competition for John Terry and David Luiz, and has been linked with Inter Milan's Lucio and Bolton's Gary Cahill.

Portugal international Pepe has now joined that list of targets and Chelsea are prepared to offer him a salary package worth £4.5 million a year, reports Marca.

But, should the 28-year-old end up at Stamford Bridge, he may not be utilised regularly in his preferred central defensive role.

Villas-Boas is said to see Pepe primarily as a holding midfielder - a role he fulfilled with mixed success during Madrid's run of games against Barcelona in the closing stages of last season.

One Blues transfer target who will not be moving to London is Benfica full-back Fabio Coentrao.

Reports in the Spanish press claim he stormed out of a training camp on Saturday, after learning that Benfica had accepted a bid from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old is said to have set his heart on a move to Real Madrid, but Los Merengues are unwilling to meet the Portuguese club's £25 million asking price. 

Read