Chelsea are confident of landing Valencia striker David Villa.

The London Evening Standard says Chelsea's hopes of signing Villa grew last night after the Spanish club's president Vicente Soriano resigned over their cash crisis.

Valencia are believed to be around £400million in debt and Soriano fears the club could sell off 27 year-old Villa and their other prize asset, midfielder David Silva.

Soriano, who was appointed last July, said: "I managed to hang on to Villa and Silva, and one year further on I am sure that if my successors want to sell them they will be worth much more than 12 months ago."