Chelsea join dispute for De Lucas

Quique De Lucas arrived in London today with a black shadow hanging over his proposed move to Chelsea.

The 23-year-old Spaniard is being threatened with legal action by Spanish side Alaves because they claim he has already signed a contract to join them.

While de Lucas was flying into Heathrow this morning, Alaves president Gonzalo Anton was holding a press conference to show the contractual documents he claims now make the winger an Alaves player. His contract with Espanyol expired yesterday.

But speaking exclusively to Standard Sport de Lucas said: "I know Chelsea is a great and ambitious club which played in the Cup Final last season and has won many trophies. So going there - and living in a cosmopolitan city like London - is a great experience for a player.

"What's more I hear Chelsea want my friend from Espanol, Raul Tamudo, to come to London and from what I know of Chelsea I would certainly advise him to come with me. I know he's ready to leave Espanyol if the offer comes."

De Lucas caught the eye last season with seven goals from midfield including a spectacular equaliser against Real Madrid for Espanyol in the Olympic Stadium, a game in which Tamudo scored the winner. De Lucas will spend much of today in meetings with Chelsea's lawyers, his agent Paulo Hernandez plus a Spanish legal team in a bid to resolve the contractual wrangle.