Chelsea’s long-running pursuit of Daniel Alves faltered yesterday, but the player’s agent claims that he is “80-90 per cent” certain that the Seville right back will be at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The clubs broke off negotiations after failing to agree a fee during talks in Madrid late on Tuesday night, though the Brazilian’s determination to leave Spain should be enough to see the deal salvaged.

Alves was left out of the Seville team that played AEK Athens in the Champions League third round qualifying tie last night at his own request and is unlikely to play for them again.

Chelsea had initially hoped that allowing Khalid Boulahrouz to join the Spaniards on loan for a season would count in their favour, but Seville have dug in and the asking price has risen. Seville were so confident of completing the transfer on Tuesday that club sources claimed Alves would leave for a fee of £21.5 million rising to £25 million, but the bid they received did not live up to their expectations.

Chelsea offered £17 million and are adamant that they will not go higher, leaving the game of brinkmanship to continue. Geronimo Suarez, Alves’s agent, insists the transfer will go ahead. “I am confident in the Chelsea directors, I understand Chelsea is not easy to be driven but let’s say we are 80-90 per cent confident that we can close the agreement,” Suarez said.

“We are in a complicated moment because both are determined to close a deal, but it is not easy to finalise. We are close enough to be confident that finally the clubs will be able to reach an agreement for the player.”

Chelsea’s negotiations with Real Madrid over the sale of Arjen Robben have reached a similar impasse, with the London club demanding £27 million for the Holland winger.