Blues Close to Incredible Hulk - Report

Champions League winners Chelsea, after successfully signing Lille striker Eden Hazard, are now reportedly close to landing Brazilian striker Hulk from FC Porto, according to a Goal.com report.

Hazard, who rejected offers from Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal, is set to visit Stamford Bridge after Belgium's friendly with England on Sunday. Prior to that the Blues will be hoping to wrap up their deal with Porto and bring Hulk to the Blues' camp, according to a Metro report.

The 25 year old Brazilian, who moved to Porto from Japanese club Tokyo Verdy in 2008, is considered one of the best strikers in Europe and has scored a total 52 goals in 95 appearances for the Portuguese club.

The player is being spoke about as the perfect replacement for Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, who will be leaving Chelsea this summer (with a possible move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua lined up).

The Blues, who have been targeting Hulk for nearly 18 months now, were close to signing the Brazilian in the January transfer window. However, Porto's £60mn asking price (because of the striker's £80 million buyout clause) was too much for Chelsea, so a deal could not be concluded.

However, now the Portuguese club, who know they cannot expect £60mn from any team, are ready to say goodbye to their top scorer for around £40mn, according to the Telegraph.

Hulk, who was Porto's top scorer with 21 goals in 38 games this season, has had a very successful campaign with the Portuguese club and the Brazilian is reportedly desperate to make a move to Stamford Bridge.

If the deal goes through, it will make the player the third signing of the new season, after deals for Hazard and Werder Bremen's Marko Marin. Hulk will, a report in the Metro suggests, be paid £120,000 per week and sign a four year contract.

Meanwhile, Chelsea vice captain Frank Lampard, who has reportedly picked up an injury causing problems for England manager Roy Hodgson ahead of the 2012 Euros, said he was very excited to play alongside Belgian forward Hazard next season.

"It is very exciting to hear the news. I haven't seen much French football but everyone I speak to says he is a very top player, a very top young player. If he can bring that youth and hunger and ability into our team, then he'll be very welcome," Sky Sports quoted Lampard as saying.

"Joe Cole knows him very well and spent a year at Lille with him. Talking about those type of players, Joe is very honest and knowledgeable and he has been very impressed with him," said Lampard, according to an Independent report.