Chelsea place formal offer for Atletico star

Chelsea have reportedly made an initial bid of around £20m for the services of Atletico defender Joao Miranda.

The Blues boss Jose Mourinho is believed to be a huge admirer of the Brazilian's talents, and is open to sealing a deal for his signature during the current transfer window.

According to The Metro, the Blues have placed a £20m bid for the talented centre-back, who played a crucial part in Atleti's run to the La Liga title.

The move comes about with Mourinho's uncertainty over Kurt Zouma's potential to succeed in the English top tier.