Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini is a £17 million target for Chelsea.

The News of the World says Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is now ready to spend big in the New Year and will turn his attention to his ageing strikeforce.

Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka have been impressive this season but are on the wrong side of 30. So Ancelotti has been following 25-year-old hitman Pazzini, who has scored seven goals in 11 games this season.

Sources in Italy claim the Blues have already had one bid rejected but refuse to take no for an answer.

And before Chelsea's transfer ban was suspended last week, Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia: "We cannot say anything on this because we are waiting for a decision from FIFA.

"We have to wait before making any move.

"Pazzini is doing really well but if all the players I like were to come to Chelsea, we would have to enlarge the squad."