Portugal stalwart Deco becomes Scolari's first signing at Chelsea

Sportsmail can reveal that Republic of Ireland striker Keane delivered his shock transfer demand after learning Liverpool had lodged a player-plus-cash bid for him on Friday.

Done deal: Deco has become Luiz Felipe Scolari's first signing as Chelsea boss.

The 28-year-old came out of a meeting at White Hart Lane having left club officials in little doubt about his eagerness to play for his boyhood idols. Anfield manager Rafa Benitez sees Keane as the ideal strike partner for Euro 2008 match-winner Fernando Torres and is prepared to part with Peter Crouch and around £5million to make it happen.

As with his pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, though, Benitez is going to have to dig deeper after Tottenham rejected his initial offer and placed a £20m valuation on Keane.

Chelsea have already signalled their intentions to back new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, with their move for 30-year-old Barcelona midfielder Deco likely to signal the start of a spectacular summer spending spree. It will also bring forward Frank Lampard's move to Inter Milan within the next couple of weeks.

The club confirmed last night the arrival of the Portugal midfielder, who is already looking for a property close to their Surrey training ground after proving the easiest of Scolari's targets for Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon to negotiate.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola had already told Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o that they could leave the club.

Deco was one of Scolari's key players in his six years as coach of Portugal and despite reservations about the player's age Chelsea have had to back their new manager. That has begun with the arrival of Deco on a contract worth around £100,000 a week and he will form a partnership in the centre of midfielder with Euro 2008 finalist Michael Ballack.

That would open the exit door for Lampard, who has already held talks with Inter. Despite the offer of a lucrative long-term contract at Chelsea it is understood the lure of working with Jose Mourinho again in Italy has proved too strong for the England midfielder.

Keane's desire to get away from Spurs is a bigger shock. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and long-serving centre back Jamie Carragher are both friends of the Irishman, who could be one of three strikers to leave Tottenham should the deal go through.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos knows Dimitar Berbatov is unsettled and he is also exploring ways of offloading Darren Bent. Apart from having to increase the cash adjustment, Benitez may also struggle to talk Crouch into being part of the package as the England striker still wishes to join Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.

Villa confirmed that Barry can move to Anfield, provided Liverpool match their £18m price.