Chelsea are preparing a stunning bid to sign Valencia goal machine David Villa, to kick off the busiest transfer window at Stamford Bridge in four years, Goal.com UK can reveal.
The 28-year-old Valencia striker is finally set to leave the Mestalla this summer and is a target for clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But a source inside the west London club said they are hopeful of beating their rivals to the signature of Spain's prolific frontman, who has shot to the top of coach Carlo Ancelotti's shopping list this week.
Villa, who is tipped to be one of the stars of this summer's World Cup, is available to buy for £40 million, though the Blues have indicated to cash-strapped Valencia that they believe this to be too high.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has been told that significant funds are available to him to rejuvenate Chelsea's ageing squad and with stars including Michael Ballack and Joe Cole out of contract and possibly heading for the exit door, spending could exceed the £68 million spent on players in the summer of 2006.
The move comes after Goal.com UK revealed last week that both Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery are transfer targets.
But suspicions are growing at Stamford Bridge that Ribery in particular is simply using Chelsea's interest to try and squeeze a concrete approach from Real Madrid, the club believed to be the Frenchman's first choice.
Chelsea have therefore refocused their attentions on Villa, who has passed the 20-goal mark in each of his five seasons at the Mestalla.
Villa himself has become more receptive to a move to England after switches to Real Madrid and Barcelona fell through last summer.
Last year Chelsea skipper John Terry urged the club to sign Villa, who scored six goals at Euro 2008.
Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that he will look to promote a handful of academy products, such as Gael Kakuta and Sam Hutchinson, to next season's first-team squad, but Roman Abramovich is still keen to bring in one or two 'marquee names'.
AC Milan prodigy Alexandre Pato is also a possible new addition at Stamford Bridge, and the 20-year-old Brazilian is keen to link up with his former coach Ancelotti.
The 28-year-old Valencia striker is finally set to leave the Mestalla this summer and is a target for clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But a source inside the west London club said they are hopeful of beating their rivals to the signature of Spain's prolific frontman, who has shot to the top of coach Carlo Ancelotti's shopping list this week.
Villa, who is tipped to be one of the stars of this summer's World Cup, is available to buy for £40 million, though the Blues have indicated to cash-strapped Valencia that they believe this to be too high.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has been told that significant funds are available to him to rejuvenate Chelsea's ageing squad and with stars including Michael Ballack and Joe Cole out of contract and possibly heading for the exit door, spending could exceed the £68 million spent on players in the summer of 2006.
The move comes after Goal.com UK revealed last week that both Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery are transfer targets.
But suspicions are growing at Stamford Bridge that Ribery in particular is simply using Chelsea's interest to try and squeeze a concrete approach from Real Madrid, the club believed to be the Frenchman's first choice.
Chelsea have therefore refocused their attentions on Villa, who has passed the 20-goal mark in each of his five seasons at the Mestalla.
Villa himself has become more receptive to a move to England after switches to Real Madrid and Barcelona fell through last summer.
Last year Chelsea skipper John Terry urged the club to sign Villa, who scored six goals at Euro 2008.
Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that he will look to promote a handful of academy products, such as Gael Kakuta and Sam Hutchinson, to next season's first-team squad, but Roman Abramovich is still keen to bring in one or two 'marquee names'.
AC Milan prodigy Alexandre Pato is also a possible new addition at Stamford Bridge, and the 20-year-old Brazilian is keen to link up with his former coach Ancelotti.
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