Sport.co.uk understands that Chelsea signed an agreement with Atletico Madrid in January which will see the Premier League club have first right of refusal on the signing of Argentine striker Sergio Aguero when the transfer window opens on July 1st.
The 21-year-old attacker has been heavily courted across Europe in the last twelve months with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona all tipped to approach the Vicente Calderon hierarchy with lucrative offers. However, despite rival bids being prepared it has been made apparent to sport.co.uk that Chelsea stole a march on their competitors at the end of the last year by entering negotiations when the Premier League side faced off against Atletico in the Champions League.
Chelsea have been linked with a host of top talents, but despite apparent interest in Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Valencia’s David Villa, it is the former Independiente man who has been pinpointed as the main target.
Having seen UEFA imposed transfer sanctions overturned by CAS in January it is understood that Chelsea are ready to spend big this summer to secure their credentials as one of Europe’s top clubs. The son-in-law of national coach and football legend Diego Maradona, it is believed that a fee in excess of €40 million will be handed to Atletico. The figure would represent a €17 million profit for Los Colchoneros on the €23 million paid to Independiente in 2006 to secure the services of Aguero at the age of 17.
It is believed that Carlo Ancelotti’s performance in his first season, which sees the Stamford Bridge side on the verge of an historic domestic double, has been enough to persuade Roman Abramovich to loosen the purse strings after a year of comparatively understated spending.
The Russian oligarch is believed to have seen his wealth increase by 6 per cent in the last twelve months with his estimated value soaring by £400 million to £7.4 billion; a figure which, according to The Sunday Times sees him lying second in Britain’s Rich List.
An insider close to negotiations between the two clubs told sport.co.uk that personal terms between Chelsea and Aguero were a formality and that it was just a case of the Blues matching Atletico’s asking price which they have been ensured will not be affected by the player’s performance at the World Cup this summer.
Speaking last week about the potential challenges of life away from the Latin culture of both Spain and Argentina, Aguero told assembled media that he was inspired to test himself alongside Chelsea’s top stars following the success of compatriot Carlos Tevez in England.
"Chelsea are a great club. They have become one of the most feared in Europe over recent years.
"I look at players like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard and they have been, and still are, the best players in their positions in the world.
"I could really learn from players like that, there is no doubt."
"London would be a really amazing city to live in as well, myself and my wife could be really happy there.
"Carlos Tevez is doing really well at Manchester City but, for me, it is about joining a club who are ready to challenge for honours. City are not ready yet."
"Inter are a great club, but it is agreed that, over the last five years, the Premier League has been the strongest," he concluded.
It is expected that should Aguero complete the move to London he will most likely dovetail with current first choice pair Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as he gets up to speed with life in the Premier League.
The Argentine will fly to England this week ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Liverpool having missed the first leg with injury.
The 21-year-old attacker has been heavily courted across Europe in the last twelve months with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona all tipped to approach the Vicente Calderon hierarchy with lucrative offers. However, despite rival bids being prepared it has been made apparent to sport.co.uk that Chelsea stole a march on their competitors at the end of the last year by entering negotiations when the Premier League side faced off against Atletico in the Champions League.
Chelsea have been linked with a host of top talents, but despite apparent interest in Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Valencia’s David Villa, it is the former Independiente man who has been pinpointed as the main target.
Having seen UEFA imposed transfer sanctions overturned by CAS in January it is understood that Chelsea are ready to spend big this summer to secure their credentials as one of Europe’s top clubs. The son-in-law of national coach and football legend Diego Maradona, it is believed that a fee in excess of €40 million will be handed to Atletico. The figure would represent a €17 million profit for Los Colchoneros on the €23 million paid to Independiente in 2006 to secure the services of Aguero at the age of 17.
It is believed that Carlo Ancelotti’s performance in his first season, which sees the Stamford Bridge side on the verge of an historic domestic double, has been enough to persuade Roman Abramovich to loosen the purse strings after a year of comparatively understated spending.
The Russian oligarch is believed to have seen his wealth increase by 6 per cent in the last twelve months with his estimated value soaring by £400 million to £7.4 billion; a figure which, according to The Sunday Times sees him lying second in Britain’s Rich List.
An insider close to negotiations between the two clubs told sport.co.uk that personal terms between Chelsea and Aguero were a formality and that it was just a case of the Blues matching Atletico’s asking price which they have been ensured will not be affected by the player’s performance at the World Cup this summer.
Speaking last week about the potential challenges of life away from the Latin culture of both Spain and Argentina, Aguero told assembled media that he was inspired to test himself alongside Chelsea’s top stars following the success of compatriot Carlos Tevez in England.
"Chelsea are a great club. They have become one of the most feared in Europe over recent years.
"I look at players like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard and they have been, and still are, the best players in their positions in the world.
"I could really learn from players like that, there is no doubt."
"London would be a really amazing city to live in as well, myself and my wife could be really happy there.
"Carlos Tevez is doing really well at Manchester City but, for me, it is about joining a club who are ready to challenge for honours. City are not ready yet."
"Inter are a great club, but it is agreed that, over the last five years, the Premier League has been the strongest," he concluded.
It is expected that should Aguero complete the move to London he will most likely dovetail with current first choice pair Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as he gets up to speed with life in the Premier League.
The Argentine will fly to England this week ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Liverpool having missed the first leg with injury.
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