Italy

Chelsea To Offer Roma €14m Plus Ricardo Carvalho For Philippe Mexes - Report

The Giallorossi will shortly have another mega-money bid on their hands for their star centre-back...

Aug 17, 2009 12:50:31 PM

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Philippe Mexes, Roma (Foto Grazia Neri)

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Despite Luciano Spalletti's declaration that Philippe Mexes would be staying put at Trigoria, the Giallorossi's management could be tempted by a bid from Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea.

According to 4-4-2.com, Ancelotti wants Mexes to partner John Terry in central defence this season and is willing to pay €14m plus Portuguese international Ricardo Carvalho for the Frenchman.

Carvalho was linked with a move to Inter earlier this summer as Jose Mourinho looked to bring the 31-year-old to San Siro along with Deco, but the Nerazzurri were priced out of a move.

The German website also suggests that, should Carvalho be unwilling to move to Rome, the Blues could use Jose Bosingwa as a makeweight instead. However, this would leave three centre-halves competing for two places and neither Mexes nor Carvalho would be content with a place on the bench.

Another problem for Chelsea is the salary of any player they would use in exchange, as that player would be earning considerably less at Stadio Olimpico than at Stamford Bridge. One way round the problem would be for Chelsea to continue to pay a percentage of the player's salary, but Roman Abramovich has been attempting to cut costs at Chelsea this summer and is unlikely to look favourably on such a solution.

Anthony Wright, Goal.com