Chelsea have launched a last minute bid for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.

Bayern are finally considering cashing in - with a deal to sign direct replacement Arjen Robben almost done. Chelsea are offering £57 million for the Frenchman.

Holland midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is also in talks to follow his Real Madrid team-mate to the Allianz Arena.

So far, the Blues' only marquee signing has been the £18m capture of Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow, but a long-running pursuit of Ribery could finally pay off following the latest bid, according to France Football magazine.