Chelsea are today poised to complete the signing of Brazilian World Cup midfielder Ramires - and give Carlo Ancelotti his prime target.

Stamford Bridge boss Ancelotti has earmarked the 23-year-old Benfica star as the key piece in his summer refit project.

And with Benfica President Luis Felipe Vieira finally giving the green light on an £18.3million deal, Ramires is expected to become a Chelsea player in the next 24 hours.

Ancelotti, who has lost Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and Joe Cole and so far only recruited £5m Yossi Benayoun, has targeted Ramires since before the World Cup when his absence through suspension was a major contributory factor in Brazil's quarter-final defeat by Holland.

The sticking point was the fact that Benfica had only been able to afford his £5.8m signing from Corinthians by selling a 50 per cent stake in the player to an investment company headed by Iranian-born Kia Joorabchian.

Now, though, the Lisbon side - who stand to make more than £8m despite Joorabchian's cut - are willing to accept Chelsea's improved offer and Vieira said: "We have completed nothing yet and the place where Ramires goes does not entirely depend on us.

"There is a partnership and and we must respect it.

"But our main goal is to continue to build the team and do the right thing in sporting terms.

"If there is a good proposal, we will do everything we can to make it work for us. We are prepared for all eventualities and have options to fill all the positions to ensure we strengthen our base."

Ramires was known as the "Blue Kenyan" during his spell with Brazilian side Corinthians, a tribute to the club's traditional colours and his remarkable endurance and ability to run and run.