Chelsea offer Real Madrid £8M for Makelele

Chelsea are offering Real Madrid £8 million for midfielder Claude Makelele.

Real are now ready to return to the negotiating table over the French international after he ended his self-imposed absence from club training last week.

Blues boss Claudio Ranieri wants a defensive midfielder before the transfer deadline falls and despite signing Alexei Smertin yesterday, will push for a deal for Makelele this week.