Ramires Calls on Chelsea to Fast-Track Brazilian Striker Deal

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has urged the club to step up efforts and complete the signing of compatriot and Porto forward Hulk. Reports suggested the European champions had agreed a £38mn fee with the Portuguese side for the Brazilian's transfer last week and Hulk had also stated it was time for him to move to a bigger club. However, Chelsea are yet to confirm the deal.

Ramires has been monitoring developments and, having played with Hulk for the national team, is sure the 25 year old will be a success at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm following here from Brazil the news about Chelsea's likely signing of Hulk. I hope he does come, I have played with him for the Brazilian national team, and I also played against him when I was at Benfica and he would surely add a lot to Chelsea's squad. If it was up to me, everything would be done already," ESPN quoted Ramires as saying.

Hulk scored 16 goals from 21 league starts for Porto last season as the club defended their league title. He has represented Brazil 11 times, scoring twice.

Meanwhile, Blues' defender Branislav Ivanovic's agent has revealed his client will be staying at Chelsea this summer, despite speculation linking him with a move away from west London. The Serbian has been a target for a host of top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid. Italian Cup winners Napoli are the most recent club to be associated with a move for the Serbian.

However, Ivanovic's representative, Vlado Boroza, has played down rumours, by claiming he does not expect his client to leave the European champions this summer.

"Ivanovic to Napoli? It's only a rumour because my client has renewed his contract with Chelsea at a figure that would not meet the financial fair play of Napoli. Ivanovic has three years left in his contract and I don't believe the basis is there to start a negotiation with Napoli. First of all, Chelsea does not want to part with the player and Ivanovic does not want to leave the club," Goal.com quoted Boroza as saying.

Ivanovic, who joined the Blues in 2008 from Lokomotiv Moscow, made 45 appearances for the club last season scoring five goals. He missed the Champions League final against Bayern Munich last month due to suspension.