Rumour: Real Madrid face battle with Chelsea to sign Benfica's Nemanja Matic

Both Chelsea and Real Madrid are in competition to sign Benfica’s talented playmaker Nemanja Matic in the January transfer window reports the Correio da Manha.

The Serbian’s footballing stock has risen dramatically over the past twelve months after a string of impressive displays for the Portuguese giants both domestically and in Europe.

The acquisition of the 25 year old’s services won’t come cheap however with his buy-out clause rumored to be in the region of £40 million and with Madrid already parting with a record transfer fee of roughly £80 million for Gareth Bale in the summer transfer window, it seems more likely that Chelsea will have the funds necessary to bring the highly-coveted play maker to Stamford Bridge.

But with Sami Khedira potentially sidelined for the remainder of the season through injury, Carlo Ancelotti will be desperate to sign some much-needed midfield cover for his ambitious Real Madrid side, still looking to bring Champions League silverware back to the Spanish capital for the first time since 2002.