Chelsea will continue their bid to land Nicolas Anelka on Tuesday after having a £12 million bid rejected by Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton rebuffed Chelsea's initial offer but negotiations are set to continue as the Blues look to strengthen their attacking options.
Chelsea will go into their Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Everton on Tuesday night with one fit striker in the form of Claudio Pizarro.
Anelka has taken Chelsea's eye after scoring 11 goals even though the former Arsenal striker signed a new four-year contract earlier this season.
Bolton manager Gary Megson had already refuted suggestions that a deal was imminent but a brief statement on Chelsea's official website read: ‘We can confirm we have made an official offer for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka, which is being discussed with Bolton Wanderers.’
Chelsea are desperate to boost their firepower with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou away on international duty with the Ivory Coast, along with Ghana's Michael Essien and Nigerian Mikel John Obi.
