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Chelsea face stiff competition from Real Madrid for Benfica's Nemanja Matic
CHELSEA will have to beat off interest from Real Madrid if they wish to claw away Nemanja Matic in the transfer window.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who has a £42m release clause written into his contract, attracted interest from newly promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco, although there hasn't been much movement on that front.
Matic had also been linked with Manchester United, with his agent professing he wasn't surprised that his client was linked with such a big club.
But now, it seems Real Madrid could thwart Chelsea in their pursuit of Matic.
A report by Portuguese paper A Bola indicates Blues boss Jose Mourinho has demand that a possible deal for Matic be settled as quickly as possible.
They go on to purport that Real Madrid are prepared to offer up to £25m for his services.
Matic clocked up 39 appearances in all competitions last season for Benfica, who finished runners-up to Porto in the Portuguese Liga.