Holders Real Madrid scored three times in 10 minutes at the Bernabeu on Tuesday in a dramatic comeback to beat Malaga 3-2 in their King's Cup last 16 first leg.
He will become Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's second signing following the arrival of Germany forward Andre Schuerrle from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last month.
Reaching the King's Cup final is of even greater importance than usual for Real Madrid following a demoralising setback in La Liga.
Cristiano Ronaldo netted his fifth La Liga hat-trick of the campaign as Real Madrid brushed off Pepe's 44th-minute dismissal to secure a crushing 6-2 victory at Sevilla and move back above Barcelona to the top of the standings on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho wants to prove there has been a shift in the balance of power towards his Real Madrid side when the La Liga leaders host bitter rivals Barcelona in the opening 'Clasico' of the campaign on Saturday.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has told his players they need to lift their game if they hope to catch La Liga leaders Real Madrid and secure a fourth straight Spanish title.
Real Madrid fans keen on their statistics will be aware the last time Cristiano Ronaldo was in such scintillating scoring form he went on to pick up a Champions League winners medal at the end of the season.
Cristiano Ronaldo lit up the Bernabeu with a brilliant four-goal performance in Real Madrid's 6-1 drubbing of struggling Racing Santander on Saturday.
Barcelona twice came from behind to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw at Valencia while Real Madrid dropped points again in a goalless affair at Racing Santander in La Liga on Wednesday.
Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder completed his move to Inter Milan from Real Madrid on Friday to end coach Jose Mourinho's search for a playmaker. The Italian champions said in a statement that Sneijder has signed a four-year contract after passing a medical.
Chelsea's Petr Cech will undergo a medical with Arsenal on Friday, according to British media reports, after the clubs agreed a fee for the 33-year-old goalkeeper.
Son Heung-min scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 defeat of Leeds United to climb back into the English Premier League's top four on Saturday.
If Real Madrid sack coach Manuel Pellegrini and replace him with Jose Mourinho, as is being hotly-tipped in the local media, it will be serious blow to the credibility of club president Florentino Perez and his long-term plan.
Bayern Munich battle Inter Milan in the Champions League final later on Saturday with both clubs bidding to complete astonishing trebles as well as take away club soccer's top prize. Italian league and cup winners Inter will become the first Serie A side to win a season treble if they prevail at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium, where all eyes are on their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo repeated allegations that referees favour Barcelona after his side were eliminated from the Champions League by their bitter rivals in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Barcelona missed a chance to virtually wrap up a third straight La Liga title when they surrendered the lead and lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad Saturday.
Inter Milan's influential playmaker Wesley Sneijder is a doubt for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg in Barcelona due to a thigh problem.
Sevilla maintained their incredible record in the competition after an otherwise difficult season.
Substitute Mario Balotelli scored a fluke goal moments after coming on to give Serie A leaders Inter Milan a 2-1 win at Bologna on Saturday. Jose Mourinho's side, who went ahead through Esteban Cambiasso before Miguel Britos equalised, stayed nine points clear after second-placed Juventus won 2-0 at Palermo.
Chelsea's Brazil playmaker Oscar was taken to hospital after being clattered by Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina during the 0-0 Premier League draw at the Emirates on Sunday.
In Conte's absence, Stellini guided Spurs to wins over Manchester City, West Ham United and Chelsea.
Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid survived without Cristiano Ronaldo to win 3-1 at Racing Santander and close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke his four-game scoring drought with a hat-trick as Real Madrid trounced lowly Malaga 7-0 in La Liga on Thursday to trim the gap with leaders Barcelona back to seven points.
Inter Milan battled to a 2-1 win over an impressive Chelsea to hold a slight advantage after their Champions League last-16 first leg at the San Siro on Wednesday.
Sublime goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez sent Leicester City back to the Premier League summit after a deserved 2-1 win over lacklustre Chelsea whose march to the title last season seems a distant memory.
Lionel Messi rescued a nervy Barcelona with a late goal to earn a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in a thrilling La Liga match on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten home record in league matches was never under threat as his side eased past Levante 2-0 on Saturday to close within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Inter Milan do not want to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, the Serie A club's sporting director said on Monday.
City will look to extend lead against United at Old Trafford
'I want to say I was convinced even before (the defeat by Chelsea in February's FA) Cup match that controlling the two players that play behind Diego (Costa) and controlling the full-backs, because they go really deep with two wide men, would create lots of problems and I repeat the same'
Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes suffered a huge blow with a surprise 1-0 defeat at Osasuna on Sunday which left Jose Mourinho's side seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
Karim Benzema went some way to justifying the 35 million euros ($49 million) Real Madrid paid to sign him when his goal secured a scrappy 1-0 home win over Real Mallorca in La Liga on Sunday.
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick helped Real Madrid fight back to beat classy Villarreal 4-2 on Sunday to cut Barcelona's La Liga lead to two points.
Angel Di Maria kept Real Madrid on the heels of La Liga leaders Barcelona as they survived a red card for Ricardo Carvalho to beat Sevilla 1-0 at home on Sunday.
Spanish midfielder Xavi, who orchestrated Spain's World Cup triumph, was named as World Soccer's Player of the Year on Thursday. The world champions completed a Spanish double by being named Team of the Year.
If there is one man who should know how to end Barcelona's four-match winning streak in the 'Clasico' it is Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid climbed back above arch rivals Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Gonzalo Higuain netted a late winner in a laboured 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
England midfielder Frank Lampard has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Real Madrid extended their dominance over city rivals Atletico and maintained their one-point lead at the top of La Liga when Ricardo Carvalho and Mesut Ozil scored in a comfortable 2-0 home win on Sunday.
Frank Lampard wants to join Inter Milan but it is ultimately Chelsea's decision, the Italian Serie A club's president Massimo Moratti said. The Italian champions, managed by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, have bid for the England midfielder but the London club has so far said it is not willing to negotiate.
