Benfica want players from Chelsea in exchange for Nemanja Matic. The London Evening Standard says the deal has suffered a slight delay after Benfica asked for two Chelsea players on top of the £21m fee already agreed, but it is only a matter of time before the transfer is finalised.

The west London club hoped to capitalise on Benfica's financial problems and re-sign the midfielder for £21m, which is £16m less than the buy-out clause in his contract.

But Benfica are now looking to add some players in exchange, in much the same way Matic was used to acquire David Luiz.

Sources in Portugal suggest that they are targeting some of Chelsea younger talent, including Gael Kakuta, who has just returned from a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem.