Chelsea are close to sealing a deal for Dynamo Moscow midfielder Maniche.
The 28-year-old is expected to link up again with Jose Mourinho soon after the start of the January transfer window.
Maniche is expected to join on loan until the end of the season with Chelsea then having the option to buy him on a two-year contract for around £5million.
Mourinho made Maniche captain at Benfica and they enjoyed double success at Porto by lifting the UEFA Cup and Champions League.
The midfielder will provide ideal cover for Michael Essien, who is set to miss at least three games for the club next month when he takes part in the African Cup of Nations for Ghana.
Dynamo sports director Boris Ignatiev confirmed the deal was reaching a conclusion and that Maniche could be heading to Stamford Bridge.
'Talks with Chelsea are still continuing,' he said. 'We are in the last parts of the negotiation. It is possible they will take Maniche on loan.'
The player has hailed Mourinho as the best coach he had worked with.
He said last year: 'He's the best coach I've worked under. He became more of a friend than a boss. I've never seen that kind of closeness from another coach in all the years I've been a footballer.'
Maniche will add pace, technique and shooting ability to the Chelsea squad should the deal go through.
The 28-year-old is expected to link up again with Jose Mourinho soon after the start of the January transfer window.
Maniche is expected to join on loan until the end of the season with Chelsea then having the option to buy him on a two-year contract for around £5million.
Mourinho made Maniche captain at Benfica and they enjoyed double success at Porto by lifting the UEFA Cup and Champions League.
The midfielder will provide ideal cover for Michael Essien, who is set to miss at least three games for the club next month when he takes part in the African Cup of Nations for Ghana.
Dynamo sports director Boris Ignatiev confirmed the deal was reaching a conclusion and that Maniche could be heading to Stamford Bridge.
'Talks with Chelsea are still continuing,' he said. 'We are in the last parts of the negotiation. It is possible they will take Maniche on loan.'
The player has hailed Mourinho as the best coach he had worked with.
He said last year: 'He's the best coach I've worked under. He became more of a friend than a boss. I've never seen that kind of closeness from another coach in all the years I've been a footballer.'
Maniche will add pace, technique and shooting ability to the Chelsea squad should the deal go through.