Manchester United along with Chelsea and Arsenal have been boosted in their attempts to land Lucas Silva following reports of European Champions Real Madrid withdrawing from the race for the 21-year-old's signature.
Real Madrid were believed to be the favourites to sign Silva, who was being targeted as a possible long-term replacement for Sami Khedira in January, but the Express reports that the La Giants have now cooled down their interest in the young Brazilian, turning their attention to AS Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia instead.
"We are interested in Lucas Silva, but also in other players," said Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, according to the Express.
So this means that Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are now clear to secure the 21-year-old signature in January.
Although a bid of around £12 million would be enough to land Silva, who being dubbed as the "new Kaka", in January, Cruzeira made end up getting more money as the three Premier League sides are likely to get into a bidding war.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has ended the speculations of Petr Cech leaving Stamford Bridge in January despite the 32-year-old being heavily linked to their Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Czech international, who had been Chelsea's first choice goalkeeper for the last decade, is being linked with a move way from Stamford Bridge as he has lost his starting spot of Thibaut Courtois.
Liverpool and Arsenal, who are both keen to bring someone to challenge their current goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Wojciech Szczesny respectively, are believed to be readying a £7 million bid for Cech in January.
But Mourinho insists that Cech is a "top quality" and he wants him to remain in Chelsea.
"The most important thing is what he brings to the team on the pitch, which is top quality," said Mourinho, according to Goal.
"When Courtois was injured against Arsenal and Petr Cech comes to play on minute 20, I was so calm. I wasn't worried about a change of goalkeeper. So when you have on the bench a super goalkeeper like Petr Cech this is the most important thing."
Despite admitting that Cech will be not be starting every game for Chelsea this season, Mourinho insists that the Blues need him.
"Obviously he wants to play, which is why sometimes I make him play. I have to feed the natural ambition of somebody who feels he is a top goalkeeper."
"I have to feed that ambition to keep him... I'm not saying happy happy, because to be happy a player must play every game... but at least to make him feel that we like him, we respect him and we need him."
