Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is planning pre-contract talks with Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso. The London Evening Standard says the former Liverpool midfielder's current deal at the Bernabeu expires in the summer and he will be able to sign a pre-contract with a non-Spanish club in January.
The 31-year-old spent three years under Mourinho at Madrid and sources in Spain suggest he will be offered a three-year contract to move to west London.
Speaking in June following Mourinho's departure from Madrid, Alonso commented: "He's someone who can touch a chord and knows how to perfectly transmit messages in the dressing room. He is a good communicator.
"He knows how and when to make quick decisions which can change the outcome of a game."
For the big stories and the banter follow us on Twitter: @tribalfootball