Chelsea monitoring Real's Robinho

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Brazilian Robinho is an admirer of Chelsea manager Scolari

Chelsea are interested in signing Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Robinho - but have not offered £48m in a bid to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

BBC Sport understands the 24-year-old is on the list of targets drawn up by Chelsea's new manager, Robinho's fellow countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Chelsea have not, as claimed by sources at the Bernabeu, made a £48m offer.

Robinho is unhappy that Real have tried to use him in their attempt to sign Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

606: DEBATE Should Chelsea sign Robinho?

Scolari is currently working on bringing in new faces ahead of his first Premier League campaign and Robinho is believed to be keen to work with the former Brazil coach.

Robinho said: "It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world.

"I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea

"In 2003, when I was unknown in Europe, he called me to play in a charity match. It was brief but it was enough for me to see his style and character."

And Robinho's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, was reported as saying in Spain: "Madrid have failed to value him as he deserves and I do not like the fact that they tried to include him in the Ronaldo deal. Money is not the problem for us now.

"What matters for Robinho is to leave the club and play for Scolari at Chelsea."

Real, however, are reluctant to sanction any deal for Robinho to leave while their bid to bring Portugal winger Ronaldo to Spain remains in the balance - and this could yet cool Chelsea's interest.

And president Ramon Calderon insists they are not forcing Robinho out of The Bernabeu.

He said "He is not upset with Real Madrid. He has told us that he is happy to continue with us.

"We are going to give him the affection that he deserves because it has been suggested that on occasion he felt he has not had it.

"I think that he is worth more than 60m Euros. There are few players like him."