Chelsea to pay £17m for Ramires

Chelsea are hoping to sign Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica for £17m.

The 23-year-old will have a medical at the Premier League club on Wednesday.

It is thought a four-year deal for Ramires, who has 16 caps for his country, could be concluded by the end of the week.

The transfer has been reportedly complicated by the fact Benfica have a 50% stake in the player with a British-based businessman owning the other 50%.

The right-sided player, whose full name is Ramires Santos do Nascimento, was praised by Dunga after some strong displays in the opening stage of the World Cup for the former Brazil manager's side.

A booking in Brazil's final group game against Portugal ruled him out of his country's quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.

Ramires joined the Brazil set-up in 2009, in time to play in every game of the country's successful defence of their Confederations Cup title.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been seeking to bolster the Blues midfield following the departure of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and the return to Brazil of Deco.