Chelsea close in on Matic capture

The 21-year-old - who has already made two appearances for the senior national team - has made 66 league outings for MFK Kosice, netting four times, since arriving from Kolubara Lazarevac in 2007.

He was set to star at this summer's U21 European Championships in Sweden, only for a broken metatarsal injury sustained in Serbia's opener against Italy to end his tournament prematurely.

However, the setback failed to quash speculation linking the youngster with a string of English sides - including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Fulham.

According to Matic himself, Chelsea had won the race for his signature, only for the Slovakian outfit to insist that no deal had been agreed to sell their prize asset to the Stamford Bridge outfit.

But the midfield marvel has now spoken to the press for a second time, again claiming that he is poised to join Carlo Ancelotti's men in West London.

"Chelsea are very interested about seeing me in their ranks. I've left the whole matter up to my agents. Everything will soon be finished,” he said in the Daily Express.

"There's a possibility I'll become a Chelsea player in the next few days.

"It's important that my club Kosice are satisfied. I have a contract with them for another one-and-a-half years and I hope it will end in the best possible way."

NEWS: Kosice deny Matic interest
NEWS: Matic accepts Chelsea contract offer
NEWS: Matic in line for England switch

CHELSEA FANS! Check FourFourTwo.com’s ever-expandinginterviewsarchive for more stuff to read:
Web Exclusives Kerry Dixon, Guus Hiddink
One on One Gianfranco Zola, Nicolas Anelka
Boy's A Bit Special  Michael Mancienne, Scott Sinclair
Perfect XI Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly
Celebrity fans Vidal Sassoon
And Another Thing Being a Big Four fan

Plus! Ruud Gullit on Weekend Wonders and Chelsea on Talentspotter

Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.