Chelsea in £27m move for Robinho as club fail to persuade Carvalho to stay

New manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has targeted the 24-year-old to help bring to Stamford Bridge the flair that owner Roman Abramovich wants.

Scolari knows Robinho well as he was emerging as a young talent in Brazil during his reign as coach.

Chelsea target: Brazil's Robinho is the subject of a £27m bid from the Blues.

The player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, claimed he met chief executive Peter Kenyon for talks in May, although it was seen at the time as a bid to try to get a better contract out of Real.

And despite Robinho confirming he has received an offer from Chelsea he admits his first choice is to stay at the Bernabeu, as long as they improve his £30,000-a-week wages.

Real would want around £35m for the player as they try and raise funds to secure Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have failed to persuade Ricardo Carvalho to stay according to the player lined up to replace him.

Brazilian defender Alcides, who has been on loan at PSV Eindhoven for the last 18 months, is set to report for pre-season training next week and he insists it's because Carvalho is leaving the club.

Carvalho has been strongly linked with a move to Inter Milan, where he would be reunited with former manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea were planning to hold contract talks with the Portugal international, who has only just started his summer break due to his involvement in Euro 2008, in a few weeks but Alcides claims the club have already given up.

He said: 'PSV wanted me to stay, but I have learned that Chelsea want me back. It seems Carvalho is leaving and I am going to replace him.'

It will be a huge blow to Scolari, who officially starts work tomorrow but is believed to have started trying to convince Carvalho to stay during Euro 2008 in his role as Portugal coach.

However, Chelesea remain hopeful they can keep another Inter target, Frank Lampard.

The Blues insist they have had no contact from any other clubs despite reports claiming Inter have already signed the England international on a four-year deal for £7.1m.

Mourinho has made his former midfielder a priority signing but Chelsea are so determined to keep Lampard they would consider forcing him to play out the remaining year of his contract.

Lampard, 30, is expected back from holiday this week and he and his representatives will have further discussions with Chelsea.