Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is closing in on top transfer target Daniele de Rossi. The Mirror says Roma are demanding that the Londoners loan them teenage Brazilian full-back Wallace as part of the £11million transfer of De Rossi, 29.

Mourinho, who tried to sign De Rossi at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid, believes the Italian will be the perfect fit for the midfield fulcrum of his new-look Blues.

He sees the experienced De Rossi as the key component to give his side ballast in midfield, initially alongside Frank Lampard, although in the expectation that Dutch recruit Marco van Ginkel will mature into a starter over the next year.