EPL Transfers: Ramires Desperate For Chelsea Switch

Benfica's Brazilian midfielder Ramires has pleaded with his club to let him join Chelsea.

Talking to press, Ramires said, "I know there has been a bid for me from Chelsea, this is a great honour, it is like a dream come true, I have dreamt of playing in the Premier League and now to have the opportunity to play for the best team in the Premier League and for a club with so much history, it would be my dream.

"I hope this can happen, and I hope that I can help Chelsea to regain the Double and also to win the Champions League next season.

"I am looking forward to playing with the likes of John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba, they are amongst the best in the world, to play with players like this under a manager of the stature of Carlo Ancelotti whom I admire and respect, in a club with so much spirit and winning mentality, would be a tremendous privilege.

"In the process, I would like everyone to know I had a fantastic year at Benfica, and I respect them a lot, but this is a dream that I cannot let go."

Chelsea made a £16.8 million bid for the Brazilian, but Benfica want them to increase the bid. Another possible hitch in the deal is that businessman Kia Joorabchian has a 50 percent stake in the player.

Benfica signed Ramires from Cruzeiro last summer and paid 7.5 million Euros for the young midfielder. Despite signing a five-year contract with a 30 million Euro release clause with the Portuguese club, Ramires declared,

"I am going there to play a beautiful season so that afterwards I can join another big European club."