Deco set to join Scolari at Chelsea

Signing could pave way for Lampard Stamford Bridge exit

Outgoing Portuguese manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is likely to be joined at new club Chelsea by international midfielder Deco, according to reports in Portugal.

The Brazilian boss was yesterday announced as the man chosen to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge, and Portuguese daily Record says the 59-year-old will bring Barcelona playmaker Deco with him to England.

According to the paper, negotiations between Scolari and Chelsea had been going on for around one month, and the Portuguese players were informed of his future intentions on the squad’s arrival in Neuchatel, where they are based for the ongoing European Championships.

Deco has been told he can leave the Camp Nou after four years at Barcelona, and earlier this week the 30-year-old admitted that he had offers from Chelsea and Inter, where he would also link up with a former manager in Jose Mourinho. However, it is believed that Deco’s close relationship with Scolari will see the player head to London.

If the move does go ahead, press reports in both England and Italy claim that current Blues midfielder Frank Lampard could head out of Stamford Bridge and join up with Mourinho at the San Siro.

Meanwhile, current Chelsea defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira have expressed their delight at Scolari’s appointment. “He is a great manager and a big personality,” said Carvalho. “He’s the kind of guy players respond to and I think we can go forward with him.”

Ferreira added: “I think Scolari is a good manager and he can do a good job there. It will be good for the club.”