Chelsea deny record ??73.5m bid for Kaka as Real remain on course to land Brazil star

Chelsea have denied making an astonishing ??73.5million for AC Milan's superstar Kaka.

Sportsmail revealed last night how Spanish giants Real Madrid were closing in on the signing of the 27-year-old Brazil playmaker, but reports have emerged suggesting that new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has contacted the player personally in a bid to hijack Real's deal.

But the Blues have now slammed claims that they will launch a world record bid for Kaka. The previous record stands at ??47m - the fee Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

Reports in Spain this morning claimed Madrid were confident of completing a deal approaching ??60m.

Spanish newspaper AS also claims Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would be keen on the transfer coup because he is still hurting by the way Madrid sold Robinho to Manchester City rather than his side on transfer deadline day last summer.

But a close relationship between Madrid's returning president Florentino Perez and Milan general manager Adriano Galliani keeps the Spaniards in the driving seat.

It is understood that a deal was virtually done last night before a stumbling block emerged over the level of commission that Bosco Leite would receive in the deal.

There is a suggestion that Chelsea's interest was introduced by Kaka's representatives as negotiations stalled, driving up the price from Madrid's opening offer of ??52m.

The salary Kaka would receive on a five-year deal was pushed up to ??157,000 a week.

Milan, for their part, admit that Galliani was in Madrid yesterday but insist it had nothing to do with negotiating a deal for Kaka, who has also previously interested Manchester United.

'The general manager of the Rossoneri, Adriano Galliani, is in the city of Madrid exclusively for the investiture dinner of Florentino Perez, the new president of Real Madrid,' a statement read.

However, the Italian club's president Silvio Berlusconi and Galliani have both softened up fans for their hero's departure, admitting it would be hard to refuse a bid that would clear their debts.

Kaka is in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janeiro, on international duty with Brazil and faces two World Cup qualifiers next week, making a quick resolution to the saga difficult.

He yesterday insisted he wanted to stay with the Rossoneri, but he harbours a dream of playing in the white of Madrid and would be in line for a perfect diplomatic exit if Milan publicly accept his bid.

The Bernabeu hierarchy are said to have such respect for Berlusconi that they will let the Italians dictate the announcement of the deal, which is expected to happen no later than next week by videoconference from Brazil.