Chelsea are planning a £60 million spending spree in January - if they can freeze their transfer ban.
The Daily Express says Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira has already had talks and could be the first player to be brought in by anxious manager Carlo Ancelotti.
But the Blues are also plotting moves for Benfica's brilliant £30m winger Angel Di Maria and long-time target David Villa of Valencia, and are also monitoring Emile Heskey's unhappy situation at Aston Villa.
Chelsea have requested a suspension of the ban imposed by FIFA while their appeal is heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
That is almost certain to be granted, allowing Chelsea to bring in players in January to fill the massive gaps left when Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel leave for the African Nations Cup.
Vieira, struggling to keep his place in the Inter team, watched Chelsea play Liverpool two weeks ago and had preliminary talks with the club.
Di Maria, the exciting 21-year-old who destroyed Everton in the Europa League on Thursday, is a key target. More likely, though, is £30m Valencia forward Villa, who would fit the criteria of being able to step straight into the team - as would England striker Heskey, who would cost about £2.5m and is unhappy at Villa.
