"Final offensive for Robben," was how El Mundo daily saw a mooted 20 million euros (26 million dollars) for the wide man in Bernd Schuster's revamped side.

"Robben is very close," the paper added, saying that the meringues were also not giving up on Arsenal's Spanish midfield starlet Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas said during the week for the second summer in a row he was staying in London but El Mundo reoprted that "Cesc can be in white from 2008 -- it's practically a done deal for the coming year."

Robben has been in long drawn-out negotiations with Chelsea over a contract extension until 2012 but has not always been in favour with the club's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

With the Blues having Tuesday signed France international Florent Malouda from Lyon on a four-year contract for some 20 million euros Chelsea may opt to take Real's cash for Robben having covered their flank.