According to caughtoffside.com, Manchester United are interested in signing Brazilian defender Dede.

The 23-year-old currently plays for Vasco da Gama in Brazil, where his performances have earned him international recognition. Dede made his debut for the national side in September last year.

Here’s a great excerpt from the caughtoffside article to tell us a little more about him:

“In his home country of Brazil, he has earned the moniker of Dedeckenbauer – in homage to legendary Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer of course – and his average of a goal every five games is mightily impressive.”

Chelsea are expected to complete a deal for Genk midfielder Kevin de Bruyne in the next couple of days, with the player likely to be loaned back to his club for the rest of the season.

“The expectation is that it will be done this week,” say a Genk source quoted by the Daily Star today.

“The assumption is that Kevin de Bruyne will be transferred to Chelsea and then will finish the season (on loan) at Genk.”

De Bruyne is said to have impressed Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas in the Champions League this season, with the 20-year-old coming up against the Blues twice in the group stages.

Chelsea owner Roman Ambramovich is reportedly standing in the way of a deal to bring Porto striker Hulk to the club.

The Daily Mail say Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is very keen on being reunited with the player, who he worked with during his successful spell at Porto.

They say Chelsea have been quoted £83 million for his services, however, and that Ambramovich is simply not willing to meet such a price tag for the 25-year-old.

Chelsea did of course pay £50 million for Fernando Torres last January, which may well be factoring into Ambramovich’s decision making on the issue.