” Chelsea’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho is close to signing Henrique Sampaio of Portuguese side Nacional as the London club’s third keeper.

The 30-year-old, who played under Mourinho at Portuguese champions FC Porto in the 2002-03 season, is poised to sign with Chelsea for two seasons, daily sports newspaper O Jogo said Wednesday.

The player’s three-year contract with Nacional, based on the Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic, expires at the end of July.

“I can hardly believe it. It still has to be confirmed. I have no words to define the pleasure it would be to work with Mournho again,” he told the newspaper.

The Chelsea coach told reporters in Lisbon Monday he was looking for a third goalkeeper to join Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini and was open to hiring a player from the Portuguese league.

“We’ll see. I need a goalkeeper who is experienced, tranquil, a team player,” he said when asked if Benfica’s Qium was an option.

“It is possible that I will find someone with this profile in Portuguese football,” he added.

Nacional finished the season in fifth place, securing a spot in the UEFA Cup alongside Sporting Braga and Portuguese Cup finalists Vitoria Setubal.

Source:Soccer World Cup