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Nemanja Matić's return to Chelsea is close to completion after the club confirmed he will undergo a medical ahead of his £21 million transfer.
Matić, who left the Blues for Benfica in 2011 as part of the David Luíz deal, will become the club's first signing of the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old Serbia international was sold by Carlo Ancelotti three years ago but has impressed in Portugal, and faced his former club in last year's Europa League final.
Despite reporting a £49.4m financial loss for the year to 30 June 2013, Chelsea will offset the Matić deal by selling Kevin de Bruyne to Wolfsburg for a fee of around £18m.
The arrival of Matić will quell Chelsea coach José Mourinho's concerns about the state of their midfield, where there is insufficient protection for the back four.
Although John Obi Mikel has been tasked with shielding the defence, Matić is a livelier option and will help fill the void when Frank Lampard leaves the club.
Lampard, 35, is out of contract in the summer although he has reportedly been offered an extension.
Nemanja Matić
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic gestures to the Benfica fans at the end of the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at Luz stadium on January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Porto's Brazilian defender Danilo Silva (L) vies with Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic during the Portuguese football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon on January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (2R) and Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay (2L) vie with Porto's Brazilian defender Danilo Silva (L) during the Portuguese football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon on January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Setubal's defender Pedro Queiros (L) vies with Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic during the Portuguese league football match VSC Setubal vs SL Benfica at the Bonfim stadium in Setubal on December 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese liga football match SC Olhanense vs SL Benfica at Algarve stadium in Faro on December 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) vies with Olhanense's Brazilian forward Pele during the Portuguese liga football match SC Olhanense vs SL Benfica at Algarve stadium in Faro on December 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) fights for the ball with Gil Vicente's forward Diogo Viana during the Portuguese Cup football eigth of finals match Benfica vs Gil Vincente at Luz Stadium in Lisbon on January 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO (Photo credit should read JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese liga football match SC Olhanense vs SL Benfica at Algarve stadium in Faro on December 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese liga football match SC Olhanense vs SL Benfica at Algarve stadium in Faro on December 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (C) vies with Olhanense's Brazilian forward Pele (L) and defender Paulo Regula during the Portuguese liga football match SC Olhanense vs SL Benfica at Algarve stadium in Faro on December 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) vies with PSG's Argentinian forward Ezequiel Lavezzi during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match SL Benfica vs Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on December 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) vies with PSG's defender Kalifa Traore (C) during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match SL Benfica vs Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on December 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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PSG's Brazilian forward Lucas Moura (R) vies with Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match SL Benfica vs Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on December 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic arrives for a training session at Benfica's training camp in Seixal, outskirts of Lisbon, on December 9, 2013 on the eve of their UEFA Champions League group C football match SL Benfica vs Paris Saint-Germain. AFP PHOTO/ FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Rio Ave's Ghanaian midfielder Alhassan Wakaso (R) vies with Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic during the Portuguese league football match Rio Ave vs Benfica at the Arcos stadium in Vila do Conde on December 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) heads the ball past Rio Ave's Egyptian forward Ahmed Hassan during the Portuguese league football match Rio Ave vs Benfica at the Arcos stadium in Vila do Conde on December 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) celebrates after scoring during the Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on November 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) and Anderlecht's Massimo Bruno (C) fight for the ball during the Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on November 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) heads the ball past Rio Ave's Brazilian defender Edimar (C) and midfielder Ricardo Monteiro 'Tarantini' during the Portuguese league football match Rio Ave vs Benfica at the Arcos stadium in Vila do Conde on December 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) celebrates with teammate Enzo Perez after scoring during the Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on November 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) celebrates with teammate Enzo Perez after scoring during the Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on November 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (3R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on November 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Anderlecht's Cheikhou Kouyate (L) vies with Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic during an UEFA Champions League football match between Anderlecht and Benfica at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on Novembre 27, 2013 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) vies with Braga's Brazilian midfielder Mauro Sousa during the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs SC Braga at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on November 23, 2013. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO NUNES (Photo credit should read PEDRO NUNES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic celebrates after scoring during the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs SC Braga at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on November 23, 2013. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO NUNES (Photo credit should read PEDRO NUNES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Lazar Markovic (front) hugs Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (back) after scoring during the Portuguese league football match Academica de Coimbra vs SL Benfica at Cidade de Coimbra stadium in Coimbra on November 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) heads the ball beside Nacional's Venezuelan forward Mario Rondon (R) during the Portuguese league football match Benfica vs Nacional at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on October 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Benfica's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (C) vies with Pacos de Ferreira's midfielder Ruben Ribeiro during the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs Pacos de Ferreira at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on September 14, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SL Benfica v RSC Anderlecht - UEFA Champions League(29 of29)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - SEPTEMBER 17: Massimo Bruno (L) of RSC Anderlecht is challenged by Nemanja Matic of SL Benfica during the UEFA Champions League group stage match between SL Benfica and RSC Anderlecht held on September 17, 2013 at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Henriques Da Cunha/EuroFootball/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)