Chelsea blues: Hulk has snubbed west London for Monaco (Picture AP)

Monaco have beaten Chelsea to a marquee signing for the second time this summer after agreeing to sign Hulk from Zenit St Petersburg.

The Brazil international, who can play as an attacking midfielder or out on the flanks, will complete his £52 million move this evening according to Radio Monte Carlo.

The former Porto player has twice been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, the first time when he was in Portugal, and was also reportedly a target for Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas but has chosen to move to the south of France.

Radamel Falcao also picked Monaco over Chelsea (Picture REUTERS)

Chelsea were also interested in Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao but missed out when he, too, joined newly-rich Monaco.


Hulk’s agent Teldoro Fonseca said: ‘It is up to the club to communicate this information.’ But tellingly, he did not deny the report.