Chelsea are set to beat Liverpool in the battle to sign Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, as reported by the Daily Express.

They will, however, have to negotiate Inter Milan down on the price that they are demanding for the forward.

The Italian giants are demanding a whopping £30 million for the Argentinian striker, according to reports from Italy.

Chelsea are convinced that they can negotiate Icardi’s price down to only £20 million at the end of the season, which would allow them to pip Liverpool to his signature.

Jose Mourinho has previously highlighted Icardi as the ideal replacement for Didier Drogba, who returned to the club on a free transfer in the summer after a spell at Galatasaray.

Drogba is set to retire at the end of the season.

A fresh story from the Express now suggests that Chelsea are set to win a race that Liverpool were also involved in.

Liverpool and Chelsea are both believed to be lining up a bid for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi next summer, as reported by the Daily Express.

The 21 year old striker was repeatedly linked with a switch to the Premier League duo in the summer, but a bid was never completed and Icardi remained in Serie A going into the season.

However, new Inter boss Roberto Mancini has reportedly decided that Icardi will not be part of his plans going forward, and as a result, he could move to England.

Icardi has been valued at around £28 million, which is the fee that the sides would have to pay for the highly rated ace.

His former coach Jesus Hernandez has clarified how highly rated the player is, and suggested that England could be a possible destination for the striker, who he rated as possibly emulating Ronaldo.

Liverpool have been lacking a goalscorer since the departure of Luis Suarez and the series of injuries suffered by Daniel Sturridge.