Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao looks Monaco-bound. Reuters

Atletico Madrid are planning on cashing in on Radamel Falcao this summer, with Chelsea frontrunners for the striker’s signature, according to the Daily Mail.

Reports of Chelsea’s interest in the Colombia international have been frequent since last summer. Despite Atletico looking good for a Champions League place, the Mail claims that the La Liga side are looking to sell the 27-year-old when his value is at its peak. It is said that Atletico are already lining up Liverpool’s Luis Suarez as a replacement.

Falcao has a €60 million (£52.5m) release clause in his contract and Chelsea may have to pay close to that amount to secure his services.

Chelsea’s attempts to sign Falcao are expected to be helped, though, by the fact that Atletico are keen to secure Thibaut Courtois on a permanent deal. The Belgian goalkeeper is currently is currently in his second season on loan at the Vicente Calderon.

Chelsea could also be set for another big-money signing, with the future of Marouane Fellaini at Everton looking increasingly precarious.

The midfielder’s poor recent form continued in his club’s FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Wigan on Saturday and he reacted angrily to abuse from his own support. Having subsequently cancelled a scheduled appearance at Everton’s megastore, the Daily Telegraph reports that the Belgium international is expected to depart in the summer.

The 25-year-old has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if a club in the Champions League makes an offer of £23 million. Chelsea have been strongly linked to Fellaini for some time.

In other news, the Daily Express reports that Chelsea have made inquiries about the availability of young Milan forward M’Baye Niang. The 18-year-old only move to the Italian giants from Caen last summer after Arsenal and Everton had both shown an interest.

Chelsea have reportedly had scouts watching Niang for some time. However, despite the France Under-21 international scoring just once for Milan this season, the Rossoneri are believed to be keen to hold onto him.

The Daily Mail links the Blues to another forward in Saint-Etienne’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Chelsea are said to have had scouts at Saint-Etienne’s 2-2 draw with Rennes last Friday where Aubameyang netted his 16th goal in Ligue 1 this season.

Aubameyang, 23, has already suggested he would be keen on a move this summer, although both Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle are also thought to be interested in the Gabon international.

A new striker is widely believed to be a priority for Chelsea this summer. Despite given the opportunity to be the main striker this season, Fernando Torres has still failed to come close to justifying his enormous £50 million transfer fee.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich looks likely to finally cut his losses on the 28-year-old come the end of the season.

Demba Ba was signed in January, although a club of Chelsea’s ambitions is likely to want a truly elite forward with the possibility of another striker arriving on top of that to avoid the club being left short.