Chelsea to launch raid on ex-Arsenal target Higuain as Diego Costa continues to stall

CHELSEA are lining up a bumper bid for former Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain as Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa keeps Premier League clubs at bay.

Chelsea are desperate to land at least one striker in the transfer window and Higuain could fit the bill [GETTY]

Higuain was hotly-tipped to join the Gunners in the summer but instead moved to Napoli to replace the Paris bound Edinson Cavani.

Jose Mourinho knows he is one in-form striker away from a serious Premier League challenge but at the moment he is left with three who are very much misfiring.

Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o have disappointed and Mourinho knows he has to make a big move if he is to have a successful first season back at Stamford Bridge.

While money isn't really an object for Chelsea, Mourinho can raise funds by getting rid of two of his flop strikers, Torres and Ba.

With Eto'o out of contract in the summer he is likely to stay until May and the on-loan Romelu Lukaku will return from Everton at the end of the season to bolster Chelsea's attacking options.

Higuain has scored 13 times in 21 games this season, the same amount as the Blues' three strikers have mustered in a combined total of 49 appearances.

Time could be running out for the misfiring Fernando Torres and Demba Ba [GETTY]

Jose Mourinho managed Higuain during his time as Real Madrid boss and it's a factor which could help them win any race to sign the forward.

The Argentine moved to Napoli for £34.5m in the summer but such is Chelsea's desperation for a top striker they are willing to give Napoli a quick-fire profit on the striker.

Diego Costa has been linked with Chelsea and a host of other number of Premier League clubs, but Atletico are putting up one hell of a fight to keep him.

The Brazilian native is desperate to represent Spain at the World Cup in his country of birth next year.

And staying in his adopted country, where he is clearly settled and scoring for fun, could be seen as the best chance for Costa to make the Spain squad.

Atletico will make it difficult for anyone to prize away their star striker so Chelsea have taken the step to broaden their search for a top striker.

DailyStar