Chelsea FC close in on Kaka in £25million deal from Real Madrid CF

Posted Saturday, March 12, 2011 by Crunchsports.com

Chelsea could be edging closer to the signing of Real Madrid playmaker Kaka this summer in a £25million deal

Real Madrid look set to let the 28-year-old leave the Bernabeu this summer and Chelsea along with AC Milan and Manchester City are all keen on signing the Brazil international.

Kaka's father recently revealed that a return to the San Siro was his son's first choice option, but the chances of that happening appear to have faded after the Italian giants said that the player would need to take a drop in salary to move back to the club.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani last week told RaiDue: "Kaka’s return to Milan? Ricardo earns too much, because in Spain they pay less taxes.

"I am sorry that he has problems in Madrid, but to come back to us he would have to drop a lot his salary.

"We can afford the wage of only one (player like Zlatan) Ibrahimovic."

Chelsea are now believed to be favourites to sign the Brazilian and according to the Daily Telegraph, a senior source a Stamford Bridge has said "there is a strong chance it will happen" this summer.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is preparing for a busy summer in the transfer market and has made Kaka his top priority. The Russian is keen on lowering the average age of his squad as well as strengthening it and sees Kaka as a replacement for striker Didier Drogba, who is one of a number of players believed to be on the way out of the club.

Manchester City wanted to sign Kaka prior to his move to Real in 2009 for £56m and have been linked with him again, with the big spending Eastlands club comfortably in a position to meet whatever Los Blancos' asking price turns out to be.