Chelsea have confirmed they have lodged a bid for Real Madrid forward Robinho.
Blues lodge £19.7m offer at Madrid
Chelsea have confirmed they have lodged a bid for Real Madrid forward Robinho.
Sky Sports News broke the news earlier on Thursday and are of the understanding a £19.7million offer has been made.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has made no secret of his desire to link-up with his Brazilian compatriot and now the Blues have upped the transfer ante.
"Further to media reports, Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have made an offer to Real Madrid today (Thursday, August 7) for the transfer of Robinho," read a statement on the club's official website.
Earlier this week Robinho refused to rule out a move to Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has openly declared the club's interest in the player.
Real Madrid have repeatedly expressed a desire to keep the South American in the Spanish capital but the recent signing of Rafael van der Vaart does give them amble cover in Robinho's position, even when taking into account Wesley Sneijder's injury troubles.
Robinho was thought to be unsettled by talk he could be used as a makeweight in Madrid's bid to land Cristiano Ronaldo, a deal which has now been shelved.
Chelsea earlier this month conceded their bid to sign Robinho would be their last of the summer should it prove successful.
