Didier Drogba is a £23 million target for Italian giants AC Milan.
And Chelsea have already made plans to replace the striker with Nicolas Anelka, a £10 million recruit from Bolton Wanderers.
It seems Jose Mourinho is already having major influence at Milan. The former Chelsea boss will take over from Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season and has made Drogba his first target.
The Ivory Coast striker, currently out with a cartilage injury, publically condemned Mourinho’s sacking.
He would welcome a chance to link up with his mentor in Milan.
The Italians could test Chelsea’s resolve with a January bid for Drogba. But even if that fails, they are confident of bringing the former Marseille man to Italy once Mourinho takes over at Milan.
Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich and boss, Avram Grant are aware of Milan’s intentions and have made sure Anelka will be in place before the window closes. The Blues out-bid Manchester City on both Anelka’s fee and his £80,000-a-week wages with the deal orchestrated by super agent, Pini Zahavi.
The fee is yet to be finalised but will be in the region of £10 million for the 27-year-old, who began his English career at Arsenal in 1997