World Cup winner winger David Villa is back on Chelsea radar after it was reavealed that his club Barcelona need to raise cash to sign Cesc Fabregas.
Villa was Chelsea top target before the Valencia star opted for a trip down the Spanish coast to Barcelona.
It will also set in motion a £28m bid from Italian Giants AC and Inter Milan to land French left winger Florent Malouda.
Arsenal fans belived that Arsene Wenger had won the battle to keep Fabregas for another season, citing the notion that Barca could not afford the £40m needed to prise the midfielder out of north London.
But Chelsea ar planning to upset that delicate balance by tempting Barcelona with a £35m offer for Villa.
If accepted, Barca will move swiftly for Fabregas.
Chelsea board will ratify the bid to today after speaking to Roman Abramovich.