Bayern Munich said last night that they were confident that they could prise José Bosingwa from Chelsea.

The Portugal defender cost £15.8 million when he moved from Porto a year ago and Chelsea will be reluctant to allow him to leave until a replacement can be found.

Paulo Ferreira and Juliano Belletti are recognised right backs, but Chelsea favoured playing Branislav Ivanovic in the position last season in the absence of Bosingwa.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of Bayern, said that he was hopeful of a deal. Willy Sagnol, the right back, was forced to retire because of injury, while Massimo Oddo failed to impress after a loan spell from AC Milan. “We are holding talks, but we still need the approval of Chelsea,” he said. “He is one of the best right full backs around.”

Bosingwa and Chelsea are expected to appeal against their punishments in the wake of their Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona last month. No decision has been taken because they have not received a written explanation of the punishments from Uefa. Bosingwa was handed a three-match ban for accusing Tom Henning Ovrebo, the Norwegian referee, of being “a thief”, while Didier Drogba was banned for four matches.

Chelsea have agreed to sell Ben Sahar to Espanyol for just under £1 million. The striker, who has been offered a four-year contract, played only three games in as many years since he moved from Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant first-team coach, has claimed that some players are overlooking the benefits of the Barclays Premier League. Kaká chose to move to Real Madrid from AC Milan and David Villa, the Valencia striker, looks likely to follow. “Are some of these players taking the slightly softer option in going to Real Madrid and staying somewhere where they know and not taking up the challenge elsewhere?” he said. “Our league is the best league in the world.”