Chelsea: Jose Mourinho hoping to sign Atletico Madrid star João Miranda for cut-price deal

Chelsea are considering a move in signing Atletico Madrid defender João Miranda at the end of the season, according to the Mirror.

The Brazil international will have one year left on his contract and has not signed an extension with the Spanish capital club. This season, he has started in 19 league games and have found the back of the net on three occasions.

The west London club sent their technical director Michael Emenalo, to watch the defender is action during Atletico's 2-2 draw against Malaga at La Rosaleda Stadium on 11 April. With his current deal set to expire at the end of the next season, the Blues are looking to sign him at the end of this term.

Chelsea have already added star striker Diego Costa and left-back Filipe Luis from Atletico, while Thibaut Courtois returned to Stamford Bridge after spending three years on loan with the La Liga winners.

Miranda, 30, is aware that a transfer this summer will be his last opportunity to join a top European club. The Mirror claims he is available on a cut-price deal and Jose Mourinho is looking to make an approach for another Atletico player.

The Portuguese tactician has the services of skipper John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma as the first choice centre-backs in the squad, while Branislav Ivanovic can also fill in the place.

Meanwhile, any move from Chelsea will see them face competition from their league rivals. Miranda has been linked with Manchester United in the past and the Old Trafford club have reportedly rekindled their interest in signing the centre-back this summer.

The Atletico star has already expressed his delight after rumours suggested that Louis van Gaal is keen on recruiting him in the upcoming transfer window.

"Of course these news [stories] reach me. And they cheered me up. It's a sign that I am doing a good job," Miranda told Brazilian publication Estadao.

"I look at it with pride, but my intention is to stay at Atletico because I still have a year and a half left on my contract."