Chelsea will get down to business and try to prise Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur this week.
The Croatian, 25, has settled in well at the north London side since signing from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008, but is now prepared to opt to ply his trade at a club in the Champions League.
Chelsea who lost out on Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder will turn their attention to the creative midfielder and will start the bidding at £25m.
Privately Chelsea chief executive has informed the football board that with Manchester City as likely rivals for his signature, the Blues will have to up their bid by at least another £10m if they are serious about landing Modric.
Chelsea will put in their offer on Monday morning hoping that Spurs will bite.
Modric would expect to double his wages if he moved across London to SW6 with a £110k a week, four-year deal put to him, should Spurs agree on a transfer deal.