Chelsea deny deal for Alex

Chelsea today denied they had agreed a fee with QPR for the sale of defender Alex.

Rangers sources suggested this morning their west London rivals had accepted a bid for the wantaway Brazilian but the Blues later insisted that was not the case.

QPR had an offer rejected earlier this week but reportedly returned with an increased bid they appeared to believe would allow them begin discussing personal terms with the 29-year-old.
However, a Chelsea spokesman said this afternoon: "I can say at this time there is no agreement between the clubs."

Manager Andre Villas-Boas added: "I'm sure that the clubs can reach an agreement if they continue to push.

"We know Alex's market value and we're just not going to let him go quite easily, not that QPR's offer is far, far off.

"He is a player that has attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubs and from abroad."

Even if a fee is agreed, convincing Alex to join QPR is far from a formality amid reports he may no longer wish to remain in England.

Alex, who has also been linked with Paris St Germain and Juventus, was banished from Chelsea's first-team squad in November after submitting a transfer request.

His signing would represent another coup for ambitious Rangers after they convinced Hughes to succeed Neil Warnock as manager on Tuesday.

As well as having a previous bid for Alex snubbed - reportedly £3million - they have had offers turned down for Andy Johnson, Christopher Samba, and yesterday Steven Pienaar.

Should Rangers complete Alex's signing, he would have to wait to make his debut as the club missed the deadline for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League game at Newcastle, while he is ineligible for Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay against MK Dons.