Chelsea Launch Ambitious £12m Move for Tottenham Midfielder Sandro

Chelsea are preparing to pull off an audacious move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Sandro, according to the Metro.

The report suggests that the Blues are looking to sign a defensive midfielder in the summer and are ready to launch a £12m bid to lure the Brazilian from White Hart Lane.

Sandro played a peripheral role with the north London club last season, making just 10 Premier League starts. This resulted in his exclusion from the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad drafted by his national team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The 25-year-old wants regular first team football and last month his agent, Luiz Paulo Chignall had hinted about his client's potential exit from the north London club during the upcoming transfer window.

There was interest reported from Serie A giants AS Roma and Napoli. The Naples-based club managed by Rafael Benitez were believed to have tabled an £8m bid to sign Sandro but the approach has been rebuffed by the Spurs' hierarchy.

The Metro's report also claims that Mourinho has earmarked the tough-tackling midfielder as he could possibly be left with only two midfielders in Ramires and £21m January acquisition, Nemanja Matic before the start of next season.

Chelsea stalwart Frank Lampard has already revealed his decision to leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of this month. John Obi Mikel too could be heading for the exit door due to lack of first team opportunities.

The 27-year-old still has three years left in his contract but the Nigerian international's agent, John Shittu, has already hinted about the chances of his client joining Inter Milan this summer. This could improve Sandro's chances of featuring regularly with the west London club.

"What I can tell you is that I met with my client and the directors and they are interested in him. Inter is a possibility, but right now Mikel is a Chelsea player. I cannot tell you anything more on the negotiations. The fact remains that Mikel now has a contract with the Blues," Goal.com quoted Shittu as saying.

Additionally, it is unclear whether newly appointed Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has deemed Sandro as surplus to requirements. The Metro also states that if Mourinho is unable to sign the Brazilian, then he will make an approach for Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago Mendes.

The 33-year-old is a free agent in the summer and a move for the retired Portuguese international is certainly an economical alternative for the former Real Madrid boss.