Chelsea circle late as Meireles submits transfer request to Liverpool
Published:Raul Meireles may well be a Chelsea player tomorrow as the Liverpool midfielder has submitted a transfer request to Liverpool.
Chelsea initially made a bid on Tuesday of £8m plus Yossi Benayoun but Benayoun has completed his move to Arsenal and so it will take a higher bid from Chelsea to land the Liverpool midfielder’s signature.
Earlier today we reported that Liverpool were keen in taking Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool in any deal for Meireles and we may see the Chelsea striker head to Liverpool in the opposite direction if any deal for Meireles is to go through before 11pm.
It comes as a late blow to Liverpool who have confirmed the signing of Craig Bellamy with just half an hour to go in the summer transfer window, but Chelsea will have to move fast if they are to land the Portuguese midfielder.
It may be a late ploy from Meireles but there’s no doubt Chelsea have had their eye on the 28-year-old since learning that any deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Modric was dead.
It’s likely that Meireles has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force Liverpool’s hand with not long left to go in the transfer window and it would be no surprise to hear that he has already passed a Chelsea medical.
While Kenny Dalglish has brought in the likes of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing in this transfer window, it was clear to see in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal that Meireles is the crucial element in the Liverpool midfield.
Should Chelsea snatch the midfielder from Liverpool’s grasp then it would be a blow to the Reds title chances this season and a blow to Liverpool’s chances of finishing fourth – especially considering Arsenal are on the verge of making five signings today.
Liverpool are currently 4/7 to finish in the top four this season with Arsenal available at 6/4, but today’s transfer action could see those odds reversed tomorrow.
