Chelsea favourites to land Falcao as Torres fails

Chelsea are in pole position to land Colombian striker Radamel Falcao after Manchester City dropped out of the race.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich has given the green light to bring in Falcao after being frustrated with the failure of Fernando Torres to deliver following the departure of Didier Drogba.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo also admitted any manager would love to have the Atletico Madrid star on his team.

Di Matteo said: "Falcao is one of the best strikers, probably, in European and world football. His ratio of goals per game is quite impressive not just this season but over the last three years, at Porto and Atletico Madrid. If you ask any manager, he'd have him in his team."

Falcao himself is impressed by the Blues' ambition, saying: "Chelsea are champions of Europe and there is not much more to say than that. Even after winning the Champions League they still go and sign players of the highest quality. Their ambition is clear.

Falcao, 26, scored 36 goals last season after being recruited to replace Sergio Aguero in a £35m deal.

Atletico Madrid general manager Migel Angel Gil Marin and Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes met with City’s new sporting director Txiki Begiristan after the champions’ 2-1 win over Spurs last week, according to Sunday Mirror.

Both men arrived at the Etihad without receiving an invitation from City and were told that Roberto Mancini’s interest in Falcao would not be firmed up with an offer.

Cash-strapped Atletico were hoping that a bidding war between City and Chelsea would force up the price of a player who has a £48 million release clause in his contract.

City’s stance may change if they can find a buyer for Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window, although Mancini denied reports he wanted to offload the Italian.

Milan giants – Inter and AC – have shown interest but City’s current position means Chelsea have no competition for a player who scored a hat-trick against them in August’s European Super Cup.

Mancini feels his team lacks firepower despite the presence of Aguero, Balotelli, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko in his squad.

But Chelsea have an even greater need for a striker, with Fernando Torres still struggling.

Di Matteo warned after their 2-1 setback against West Brom that he is ready to wield the axe and abandon their attacking style in favour of a more defensive mentality.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.