Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is chasing Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao.
The Daily Mail says Coentrao had looked certain to swap Benfica for Real Madrid for around £20m.
However the clubs are at loggerheads over the intracies of the deal, with Madrid's desire to throw in Ezequiel Garay, Fernando Gago, Royston Drenthe and Pablo Sarabia, pushing the door ever so slightly ajar for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge side - who have just recruited a Portuguese manager - are willing to offer the £27m to activate Coentrao's buyout clause.
