Chelsea are set to lure Real Madrid to sell their unsettled holding midfielder Sami Khedira as he struggles for game-time after recovering from a knee injury.

The German international ruptured a cruciate ligament back in Novermber but has since recovered and was seen on the bench for the first time last Sunday when the Los Blancos took on Valencia in the La Liga.

While it may be too early to rule out the 27-year-old's involvement in Carlo Ancelloti's future plans, the emergence of Asier Illaramendi as a dependable second-stringer, with Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric's stability at the base of midfield, casts doubt as to whether he will still be able to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes on a consistent basis.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho is still an admirer of the imposing defensive specialist, who thrived during the former's reign at the Bernabeu, and is suggested to take £35million from the Stamford Bridge coffer to bring in Khedira this summer.

The former Stuttgart man will be able to maximise his absence from the World Cup this coming June to try to negotiate to a club that could assure him a regular starting role.

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