Chelsea close in on £10m Dutch playmaker

• Poignant

  25 Mar 10, 01:45

  

  REAL DEAL ... Rafael van der Vaart

  CHELSEA are closing in on Rafael van der Vaart.

  Boss Carlo Ancelotti has been tracking Real Madrid's £10m Dutch playmaker for several months.

  Talks with the representatives of the player have already begun about a move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

  Ancelotti is keen to play Van der Vaart, 27, in his diamond midfield behind the two strikers.

  The Dutch ace is widely regarded as one of the most creative players in Europe but has been frozen out at Real.

  Chelsea are keen to finalise a deal before the World Cup finals as they fear Van der Vaart's price will rocket if he does well.

  With Deco destined to go home to Brazil next season, Ancelotti wants a reliable ball player to supply his strikers.

• CKeer

  25 Mar 10, 08:35

  Actually i was hoping United would get Van Der Vaart or Sneijder when Real put them up for sale and they got Anderson instead.