Chelsea plotting £75m bid for Real Madrid star midfielder James Rodriguez

Chelsea are planning a £75million swoop for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez next month. 

The blues will bank £62million from the sale of Brazil international Oscar to Shanghai SIPG club of the Chinese Super League managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas. 

However,that leaves a midfield vacancy at Stamford Bridge – and manager Antonio Conte wants Rodriguez to fill it. 

Conte tried last summer to sign Rodriguez but Real Madrid blocked the move. Rodriguez has grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of game time at the Bernabeu . 

He has been involved in only eight La Liga games this season. Real will be reluctant to sell because of the injury to Gareth Bale which will keep the Welshman out until February. 

His absence will leave Real short of cover. But Rodriguez wants regular first team football and Chelsea are ready to give him that opportunity. 

Real will want to recoup the £ 75million they paid for Rodriguez to bring him from Monaco in 2014. 

That will not be a problem for Chelsea. After banking the money from the sale of Oscar, they will effectively only play £13million for Rodriguez. 

His arrival would give Conte another creative midfield option and enable the Chelsea boss to give Eden Hazard occasional breaks from first team action without damaging the dynamic of the Premier League leaders.