Chelsea are said to be about to sign prize Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba away from Marseille with a £22m bid - a British transfer record for a striker.
The Blues have already had two previous bids rebuffed by the French club. But it is believed that the Marseille board has agreed to sell Drogba, who will now spend the weekend discussing personal terms with Chelsea.
If the deal comes off, it will surpass the £19m Manchester United paid PSV Eindhoven for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Last month, Marseille insisted Drogba was not for sale and general manager Pape Diouf claimed even a £30m bid "would make no difference".
But it appears that Marseille's resistance over the 26-year-old has crumbled in the face of Chelsea's persistence.
Drogba would be the second striker to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer following the signing of Serbian forward Mateja Kezman.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been released from his Chelsea contract, while Drogba's arrival could pave the way for Hernan Crespo's departure, despite the Argentine's insistence that he wants to stay and fight for a place.
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
