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Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich has given the go-ahead to launch a stunning £46million January bid for Radamel Falcao.
Atletico Madrid star Falcao is regarded as the hottest striker in the world and destroyed Chelsea single-handed in the European Super Cup in August, firing a hat-trick as the Spaniards romped to a 4-1 win.
That was the night when billionaire Abramovich decided to make Falcao his No1 target and Chelsea have now got everything lined up to get a deal done when the winter window opens.
Chelsea owner Abramovich wants steal a march on Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini travelled to Spain to watch Falcao play last weekend.
Blues manager Roberto di Matteo has stuck by inconsistent £50m signing Fernando Torres up front this season, but the club have now decided to go for another big-name to boost their push for more silverware.
Falcao, a 26-year-old Colombia international, joined Atletico from Portuguese side Porto for £35m in 2011.
The Spanish club will find it hard to resist a big-money offer in January as they have debtsto pay.
Prolific Falcao has become widely regarded as the best striker in the world since moving to Europe and has a buy-out clause of €55m (£46m).
It is believed that, despite their near-£80m summer spending spree on Eden Hazard (£32m), Oscar (£25m), Victor Moses (£9m), Marko Marin (£7m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.5m), Chelsea are confident they can buy Falcao and still fall into line with UEFA's Financial Fair Play guidelines.
The Blues' against-all-odds Europan Cup triumph last season earned them millions in prize money, and neutral observers in the Premier League believe their budget will balance even with another big signing.
Falcao's move to Atletico was part funded by a third party consortium which included his agent Jorge Mendes, whose close links with Chelsea and Abramovich are likely to help any potential deal.
Atletico Madrid star Falcao is regarded as the hottest striker in the world and destroyed Chelsea single-handed in the European Super Cup in August, firing a hat-trick as the Spaniards romped to a 4-1 win.
That was the night when billionaire Abramovich decided to make Falcao his No1 target and Chelsea have now got everything lined up to get a deal done when the winter window opens.
Chelsea owner Abramovich wants steal a march on Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini travelled to Spain to watch Falcao play last weekend.
Blues manager Roberto di Matteo has stuck by inconsistent £50m signing Fernando Torres up front this season, but the club have now decided to go for another big-name to boost their push for more silverware.
Falcao, a 26-year-old Colombia international, joined Atletico from Portuguese side Porto for £35m in 2011.
The Spanish club will find it hard to resist a big-money offer in January as they have debtsto pay.
Prolific Falcao has become widely regarded as the best striker in the world since moving to Europe and has a buy-out clause of €55m (£46m).
It is believed that, despite their near-£80m summer spending spree on Eden Hazard (£32m), Oscar (£25m), Victor Moses (£9m), Marko Marin (£7m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.5m), Chelsea are confident they can buy Falcao and still fall into line with UEFA's Financial Fair Play guidelines.
The Blues' against-all-odds Europan Cup triumph last season earned them millions in prize money, and neutral observers in the Premier League believe their budget will balance even with another big signing.
Falcao's move to Atletico was part funded by a third party consortium which included his agent Jorge Mendes, whose close links with Chelsea and Abramovich are likely to help any potential deal.
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