...that Manuel Fernandes is having a medical today.

The Benfica midfielder has been on loan at Portsmouth for the best part of this season but he's been out of the team lately due to some contract wrangling between Pompey and Benfica.

Fernandes has played 12 games for Portsmouth this season, his last appearance coming during the 2-3 defeat to Bolton last month.

The combative midfielder (I overheard someone in the pub yesterday comparing him with Makelele...but he may have said ukelele) will probably sign for £6 million in the summer if his loan spell is successful.

Apparently the Blues have beat off competition from Middlesbrough to secure Fernandes' signature...but then it appears that to sign anyone these days you need to beat off competition from Boro...and Tottenham...not to mention Newcastle.