According to reports from The Express this morning, Chelsea are in talks with Atletico Madrid to sign prodigious midfielder Koke in the coming transfer window.
The Spain international is an integral member of a Mattress Makers side that have claimed a Europa League title, a Copa del Rey, a UEFA Super-Cup and a domestic title since summer 2011, amassing eleven goals and 31 assists in his last 97 La Liga outings.
But Diego Simeone’s side have struggled to replicate their La Liga-winning feats of last season, currently lying eleven points off the division’s summit in 3rd place, and the versatile midfielder is resultantly expected to move on this summer.
As This Is Futbol revealed last month, the 23 year-old is a known target of Manchester United. But it appears Chelsea have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals with negotiations with the Vincente Calderon outfit already underway.
Koke’s release clause stands at £44million, according to The Express. But Chelsea are hoping to lower that fee to £30million by offering Filipe Luis, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico last summer, in exchange.