Chelsea have sanctioned Ricardo Carvalho's £6.6m sale to Real Madrid after six years' service at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Premier League champions now free to pursue another signing from abroad.
Carvalho, who won three league titles during his time in England, is expected to sign a two-year contract with a third‑year option in Madrid upon passing a medical, and will be reunited with his compatriot José Mourinho at the Bernabéu.
Mourinho, who won the European Cup with the defender at Porto and then lured him to London in 2004, had insisted Real needed an additional defender when the team returned from their pre-season tour of the United States this week and has turned to a familiar face having been denied in his pursuit of Ashley Cole and Internazionale's Maicon.
The 32-year-old Carvalho made 210 appearances for Chelsea and departs with the club's blessing as well as with the Premier League's new 25-man squad rule in mind, allowing Ancelotti to further his interest either in a direct replacement in defence, most likely Benfica's David Luiz, or in the Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil.
Real, Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea have all expressed an interest in Ozil, the creative midfielder who excelled at the summer's World Cup finals. The 21-year-old has entered the final year of his contract with Werder Bremen and is effectively available for about £13m.
Luiz impressed for Benfica last season but, at the Portuguese club's valuation of £27m, could yet be priced out of a move to London unless the price can be reduced. Ancelotti boasts three experienced centre-halves in John Terry, Alex and Branislav Ivanovic, and the youngster Jeffrey Bruma, but could yet be swayed to decide on a fourth senior central defender in the season ahead. Terry and Alex both suffered injury problems last season, while Ivanovic may be required at right-back given José Bosingwa is still to return after missing most of last season with knee ligament damage.
Chelsea have only added Yossi Benayoun to their senior squad to date this summer, but anticipate completing the £18m signing of Benfica's Ramires ahead of the new season, with the Brazilian hoping to be granted a work permit this week.