Chelsea's Daniele de Rossi transfer clears another hurdle as Roma agree deal for replacement Strootman

PSV Eindhoven confirmation their midfielder is off to the Italian giants opens the door for 29-year-old's switch to the Bridge

Making the leap: Italy regular De Rossi looks bound for Chelsea

Robert Cianflone

Jose Mourinho is closing in on Chelsea's prime midfield target Daniele de Rossi, as Roma agreed a fee on the Italy star's replacement.
The Serie A giants are ready to let De Rossi go after completing the signing of PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman.
But Roma are demanding that the Londoners loan them teenage Brazilian full-back Wallace as part of the £11million transfer of De Rossi, 29.
We revealed last week that Mourinho, who tried to sign De Rossi at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid, believes the Italian will be the perfect fit for the midfield fulcrum of his new-look Blues.
Roma wanted to have a replacement for De Rossi sorted out before allowing him to go, and PSV technical director Marcel Brands has now confirmed a £15m agreement is in place for Strootman.
That will free De Rossi to join the Blues on a four-year deal worth around £110,000 per week - as long as Chelsea are prepared to part with Wallace, a £4m capture from Fluminense who only joined up with his new team-mates on Monday, to sweeten the move.
Mourinho sees the experienced De Rossi as the key component to give his side ballast in midfield, initially alongside Frank Lampard, although in the expectation that Dutch recruit Marco van Ginkel will mature into a starter over the next year.
The "Special One" flies out to Bangkok on Thursday for the Asian leg of Chelsea's pre-season campaign after three days of training at their Cobham HQ.

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 The Blues' Confederations Cup players - David Luiz, Oscar, Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Cesar Azpilicueta and Galatasaray-bound John Obi Mikel - will miss the start of the tour.
Mourinho suggested he will leave for the Far East a happy camper.
He said: "It is a pity when you cannot start with all of your players, and I have six that are not here, but I am so happy to be back.
"I feel the same happiness in every player. It is not just about commitment and great attitude but I think they are also showing great pleasure, they are working with passion and with enthusiasm and that is the best thing for a manager."
Mourinho added: "I have in the same group the guys that were with me before, the players that came here after 2007 and a third group which is a very special one.
"The good part of not having the players from the Confederations Cup is that some kids have the chance to be with us training. I see that not just as a learning period for them and also as a good message for the other young players."

No need to talk about Kevin: Strootman's move to Roma is sorted claim PSV

New arrivals Van Ginkel, Andre Schurrle and Mark Schwarzer have been joined by the returning Romelu Lukaku, who has pledged to show he is ready to be a first-team contender at Chelsea.
The young Belgian striker scored 17 goals on loan at West Brom last term and said: "I am quicker and stronger, improved overall and that is a good sign.
"I over-achieved my targets for last season. Now it is up to me to do better this year. I want to improve as much as I can and be an important figure for this club."