Rafael van der Vaart's desire to play in Spain will not detract Chelsea boss Avram Grant from making a January bid to land the Dutch ace, according to The Sun.

The Israeli coach will reportedly make a £20million move for the Hamburg schemer in the transfer window in a bid to bolster his Stamford Bridge ranks.

It is claimed the club's technical director Frank Arnesen has held talks with 24-year-old van der Vaart's agent, Soren Lerby.

Arnesen has close ties with van der Vaart's former club Ajax, who he left to join Hamburg in a £3.5million deal in 2005.