Chelsea are on the verge of signing Claude Makelele from Real Madrid after the two clubs agreed terms for the France midfielder's transfer, the English premier league club said on Friday.
Chelsea also said on their official website that they had completed the signing of Scotland goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer.
The signing of Makelele, who helped Real win the Spanish league title in 2001 and this year and the European Cup in 2002, will take Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich's spending on players to well over 100 million pounds ($157.8 million).
"Chelsea and Real Madrid have agreed terms for the sale of Makelele and Chelsea have also agreed terms with the player for a four-year contract," the London club said.
"The 30-year-old will now undergo a medical and Chelsea are optimistic the transfer will go through before the Champions League deadline for signings."
The Kinshasa-born Makelele, who has 24 France caps, joined Real Madrid in 2000 in a $13.7 million transfer from Celta Vigo, having previously played for Nantes and Olympique Marseille.
The fee for the midfielder, who will become Chelsea's 13th signing since the end of last season, has been put at at least 20 million euros ($21.87 million) after Real sporting director Jorge Valdano told the Spanish club's website he would not be allowed to go for less.
HELD NEGOTIATIONS
Chelsea and Real representatives held negotiations over Makelele in Monaco on Thursday when the draw for the Champions League groups was made. Chelsea were drawn in Group G with Lazio, Sparta Prague and Besiktas.
Makelele will join a Chelsea squad already boosted by the singings of Argentina's Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo, Romanian Adrian Mutu, England's Joe Cole, Geremi of Cameroon and Irishman Damien Duff.
Sullivan, 33, will be competing for the goalkeeper's jersey at Chelsea with first choice Carlo Cudicini and his fellow Italian Marco Ambrosio. Austrian Juergen Macho, signed from relegated Sunderland on a free transfer, is injured.
"With Champions League football this season we need three fit goalkeepers and I am delighted that following the unfortunate injury to Juergen Macho, we have been able to find another keeper of good quality to give us three once more," Ranieri told the Chelsea website.
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