Chelsea are ready to sign Valencia fullback Gregory van der Wiel as a replacement for Jose Bosingwa.

The Dutch star has long been admired by Andre Villas-Boas and was on the manager's radar last summer with the future of Bosingwa in doubt, says the Daily Mail.

However after the switch failed to come to fruition, La Liga side Valencia jumped to the front of the queue and had been expected to tie up a deal when the winter transfer window.

Now, though, with Bosingwa still struggling to justify his £16million price-tag at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are prepared to move against for Van der Wiel.

The 23-year-old also came close to joining Bayern Munich last year, with a fee of around £20million mooted as the sticking point.

His arrival would certainly spell the end for Bosingwa, who is wanted by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti at Paris St Germain.