CHELSEA will try to steal Franck Ribery from under the nose of Real Madrid in the January transfer window. (The Sun)The Stamford Bridge club will offer a British transfer record of around �45million for the France winger.

CHELSEA will try to steal Franck Ribery from under the nose of Real Madrid in the January transfer window. (The Sun)

The Stamford Bridge club will offer a British transfer record of around �45million for the France winger.

Ribery's German club Bayern Munich insisted yesterday that they had already turned down one mega offer from Chelsea.

With the �37.5m signing of Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero all but tied up, the Blues will now focus on Ribery, also a top target for Manchester City.

Real are widely believed to have already agreed a deal for Ribery to join Madrid next summer.

But sources close to Ribery, 26, claim Chelsea have offered a contract worth �172,000 a week, just under �1m more a year than Real.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has told owner Roman Abramovich that the club can survive the impact of a probable transfer ban next summer - IF he can sign two new players in January.

As a result, Chelsea are willing to spend up to �100m in the next available window.

Uli Holness, Bayern general manager, has claimed Chelsea had offered right-back Jose Bosingwa in part-exchange for Ribery.

He said: "The best bid for Franck came from Chelsea - �65m plus their player Jose Bosingwa."

The Blues' pursuit of Ribery has been given a boost by Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness conceding the player will leave the German club if he does not believe they are ambitious enough. (Daily Mail)