Chelsea face £12m bill for Parker

Chelsea will have to find around £12million to convince Charlton to sell Scott Parker.

The two clubs are at a stand-off after two firm bids of more than £7m and talks last weekend failed to produce an agreement.

Charlton are not keen to part with the 23-year-old and it is understood some members of the board do not want to sell at any price.

But there are also doubts at the club about the wisdom of keeping a disgruntled player who may be distracted for the rest of the season by the prospect of a move in the summer.

Claudio Ranieri is keen on Parker, who has made his desire to move to Stamford Bridge clear, and Chelsea are moving close to a deal which may be acceptable to Charlton but time is running out.

An element of brinkmanship appears to have crept in to negotiations from both sides with the end of the transfer window looming and payment terms still to be decided after a price has been agreed.