Chelsea close on der Vaart

Chelsea are close to completing a move for Dutch winger Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburger SV. The winger has had a brilliant season in die Bundesliga and Chelsea are continuously linked with a move for the former Ajax man.

van der Vaart may be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of £15 million, despite Hamburg's insistence that they do not wish to sell the player.

However, playing in the Premiership has often been an ambition of the Dutch international, and Frank Arnesen and Henk ten Cate are both admirers of van der Vaart's talents.

Apparently, Rafael is Chelsea's top target for the summer transfer window.