Chelsea transfer news: Tottenham's Paulinho seeking reported move to Chelsea after World Cup

Midfielder is believed to be keen on a White Hart Lane exit with Chelsea keeping an eye on the Brazilian at this summer's showpiece tournament in Brazil

Paulinho (Getty)

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho could leave the club just a year after joining from Brazilian side Corinthians after reports emerged that he would like a move to Chelsea following this summer’s World Cup.

Paulinho has been selected in Luis Felipe Scolari’s Brazil squad for the home World Cup, but he could be on his way to Stamford Bridge soon after with the club identifying the 25-year-old as an ideal replacement for Frank Lampard.

With a number of Spurs’ summer signings failing to settle since joining this at the beginning of the campaign, Goal.com are reporting that the midfielder wants an exit and favours a move to Chelsea ahead of the new season.

Having signed seven players with the money generated from the £86m sale of Gareth Bale, Spurs suffered a disappointing season that saw a number of their new arrivals struggle to adapt to life in the Premier League. Striker Roberto Soldado has cut a frustrated and out-of-form figure while Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela and Etienne Capoue failed to shine for the north London side.

The latter two were ruled out for the rest of the season by manager Tim Sherwood as early as mid-April, with Capoue enjoying a strong start only to fade away under Sherwood – who has not selected Lamela since the end of December due to a reported back injury.

It is believed that Spurs will seek at least £20m for a midfielder that is known for his tactical and goalscoring ability, and a move to their London rivals could prove straightforward given that the broker that manufactured the £17m move to Spurs last summer also had a hand in bringing Willian and Oscar to Stamford Bridge.

However, Jose Mourinho could face opposition from abroad with clubs in Italy also eyeing the midfielder, and the broken relationship between Spurs and Chelsea could prove a major stumbling block given that the two clubs barely acknowledge each other when they meet.

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The tension dates back to Chelsea’s pursuit of Luka Modric in 2011, while their hijacking of the transfer of Willian – who had already undergone a medical with Spurs as well as agreeing personal terms – severely annoyed chairman Daniel Levy and the rest of the board in their late move for the Brazilian last summer.