Chelsea are already well into negotiations with Atletico Madrid for Radamel Falcao. The Daily Star Sunday says Chelsea officials have already been to Madrid to open negotiations with Atletico, who would prefer to sell Falcao to Chelsea rather than see him end up playing for their fierce rivals Real Madrid.

Roman Abramovich has made it known he is prepared to pay the £48m release clause in the player's contract.

He will also give him a salary that matches that of Torres - a whopping £180,000 a week.

Reports in Spain claimed Chelsea ­intended to fly Falcao to London this weekend to have a tour of the city and the club's training facilities to help convince him to make the move to Stamford Bridge.