Chelsea close to sealing Robinho deal

(CNN) Chelsea expect to complete the signing of Brazil forward Robinho from Real Madrid before the close of European football's transfer window on Monday.

"We are ever confident that it will get done but we have always said it will go to the wire," Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said Wednesday. "We will keep moving it on and we hope that he will be joining us here at Chelsea."

Chelsea, coached by Robinho's fellow Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, are looking to bolster their forward line following the departures of Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro.

The Blues, who are attempting to regain the Premier League title they last won in 2006, are said to have offered Robinho a large increase on his current reported euro2.1 million ($3.1 million) annual salary.

Robinho would be just the second player to join since Scolari arrived as coach in July, with Deco who played under the Brazilian in the Portugal national team already having scored two goals in his first two Premier League games.

"There were two players Luiz Felipe Scolari identified," Kenyon said. "One was Deco and one was Robinho. And we have already seen the impact Deco has already made on the Premier league.

"I think the squad is strong and capable of competing in all competitions without Robinho but with him, it is an added dimension."

Madrid president Ramon Calderon said at the weekend that Robinho could terminate his contract and join Chelsea, but suggested he would have to pay a large sum to do so.

The buyout clause in Robinho's contract is set at euro150 million ($221.5 million), but Spanish sports daily Marca reported Tuesday that the Spanish champions will accept a fee of about euro40 million ($59.1 million).

Robinho, who is under contract until 2010, recently pleaded with Madrid to let him move to Stamford Bridge.

Real coach Bernd Schuster left Robinho on the bench for Sunday's Spanish Supercup second leg against Valencia.

Madrid won 4-2 to lift the trophy, but Robinho was jeered by fans when his name was announced over the public address system before the start of the game.

The 24-year-old played a key role in Real's successive Spanish title wins, but but media reports suggested he was annoyed by their refusal to allow him to play at the Olympic Games.

On Monday, Valencia rejected a $69 million offer from the Real for Spain striker David Villa, while Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is also a reported target.

Meanwhile, Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla responded on Tuesday to reports that Madrid is willing to buy him out of his contract by paying $23.3 million.

"For Real Madrid to call you is very difficult to take in. It is the best team in Spain and the truth is that it's very hard to say no," said the 23-year-old Cazorla, who appeared for Spain's triumphant team in the European Championship two months ago.

With Robinho set for Stamford Bridge, Chelsea may listen to offers for England international winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who does not appear to be part of new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans.

His former club Manchester City and Premier League rivals Everton are reported to be weighing up a bid for the 26-year-old.