Chelsea tell QPR to up £3m bid for Alex

Chelsea have told QPR to forget about landing Alex on the cheap after their west London rivals launched a bid to make him new manager Mark Hughes’ first signing.

Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas confirmed yesterday that an offer had been made for wantaway defender Alex, with QPR understood to be the bidding club. Reports suggest QPR’s initial offer was £3million but Chelsea are thought to be looking for more for the 29-year-old, who they claim they had no intention of selling before he submitted a transfer request.

Villas-Boas said: “From what I know from my chief executive, there has been an approach from a Premier League club. We have respected Alex’s transfer request so the market’s open for him.

“We’re just trying to reach the level of proposal we think is good for the player. Nothing has happened up to now, but we’ll listen to all offers. We’ll present anything to the player. He has to make a decision. He has generated interest from a lot of clubs.”

Hughes all but confirmed his intention to sign Alex at his official unveiling on Wednesday. “There is interest in top-quality players and the player you mention is very much in that level,” Hughes said.

Alex, who was banished from Chelsea’s first-team squad along with Nicolas Anelka after both submitted transfer requests, has previously been linked with Juventus and Paris St Germain. He also recently admitted he would consider a return to Santos in his native Brazil.

Chelsea also declared they are confident of completing the signing of Gary Cahill in time for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Sunderland.

It is understood Cahill’s move from Bolton could be finalised this afternoon after almost a fortnight of haggling over personal terms.

Villas-Boas insisted no deadline had been set for an agreement to be reached with the 26-year-old England defender, who would become his first January signing for a reported fee of £7million.

Villas-Boas said: “Still ongoing negotiations, not that we don’t want it solved as soon as possible. We’re making good, solid progress.”

Villas-Boas refused to criticise Cahill or his representatives for the delay, amid reports they were holding out for wages of £100,000 per week, £30,000 more than Chelsea were said to have offered. “It’s part of negotiation,” Villas-Boas said. “I’m sure all parties are protecting their interests and we’ll reach an agreement. Let’s hope to conclude it this week.”