Chelsea Edging Towards Signing Atletico Madrid Defender Filipe Luis

Chelsea are reportedly edging towards completing a deal for Atletico Madrid star Filipe Luis this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

The left-back was one of the standout players for the Spanish capital club and played a key role in Diego Simeone side's title winning campaign last season. The 28-year-old has a £21m release clause in his contract.

The report claims Jose Mourinho has urged the west London club to meet the player's asking price in order to bring him to Stamford Bridge in the coming transfer window. The former Real Madrid manager has already made the first signing of the summer after completing a deal for Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.

The Champions League runners up are set to lose Luis this summer, with Chelsea being his next likely destination. Atletico have already signed Guilherme Siqueira from Granada who is likely to replace his compatriot in the La Liga winners' squad for the new campaign.

The Blues allowed Ashley Cole leave the club at the end of last season on a free transfer. The Portuguese tactician has Ryan Bertrand as the other left-back in the squad, but Mourinho deployed Cesar Azpilicueta in that position last season.

Bertrand's future at the Bridge looks uncertain and he could possibly leave his current employers in the summer transfer window, after spending the last six months on loan at Aston Villa. He has been attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

With Cole's departure and Bertrand set for a Chelsea exit, Mourinho will be left with Azpilicueta as the only option in the left-back position. A move for Luis would help the Blues further strengthen their defence.

Meanwhile, Luis' Atletico teammate Diego Costa will be at Stamford Bridge next season after the Spain international confirmed that Chelsea is about to happen. If the report is true, a move in signing the left-back is likely to bolster the Blues squad and will make them firm favourites to win the Premier League next season.