Rafael van der Vaart (caughtoffside)

The Sunday Times reports that Chelsea have been offered Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart by Real Madrid, according to reports stemming from the English media today.

The Spanish giants are looking to recoup a portion of their vast expenditure over the summer months, and have already allowed Arjen Robben to move to Bayern Munich, while Wesley Sneijder vacated the Santiago Bernabeu to switch to Italian giants, Inter.

Van der Vaart has been on the periphery of the first-team this season, and coach Manuel Pellegrini has previously stated that he would be willing to let the former Ajax playmaker leave the club should a suitable offer arise.

The Sunday Times states that the 26-year old is unhappy with his current role with Los Blancos, and given the fact that he has not made an appearance in the Champions League, he would be eligible for European football after Christmas should he move clubs in January. But Chelsea may not be the best option as the Blues have been slapped with a transfer ban by FIFA and barring a successful appeal, the Merengues may have to take their business elsewhere.

The midfielder made the switch to Spain from German side Hamburg in the summer of 2008 but appears to be surplus to requirements under Florentino Perez’s revolution, and he has also stated his desire to play more first team football with the World Cup in South Africa looming on the horizon.