Atletico ready to release Aguero to Chelsea in January for £50m

Cash-strapped Atletico Madrid have told Chelsea to make them an offer they can’t refuse for star striker Sergio Kun Aguero.

Atletico’s director general Miguel Angel Gil Marin has confirmed Sportsmail’s reports that the Blues made their move for Argentina star Aguero in the summer transfer window.

Gil Marin says Chelsea’s bid in excess of £45million for the 21-year-old – about £10m was short of the buyout clause written into his contract.

With Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona also interested, Atletico resisted all bids, but the debt-laden club admit they may not be able to hold on to their prized asset for much longer.

‘There were two bids in the summer,’ Gil Marin told Spanish newspaper Marca.

‘Chelsea wanted Aguero and Real Madrid wanted Diego Forlan.

‘Chelsea offered 50m euros (£46m) for “Kun” and Madrid offered 36m euros (£33m) for the Uruguayan.

‘If they want to make a better offer, Atletico will assess it.

‘If we have to correct something in the winter market we will.’

Chelsea are hoping to get their transfer ban put on hold pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The move would enable them to make a winter move for Aguero and assistant boss Ray Wilkins admitted last week that the club were looking at bringing in new faces.

The Barclays Premier League leaders face a striker shortage in January with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou both on their way to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Chelsea and United were keen on recruiting him in the summer, but his wage demands of more than £200,000 a week stunned the Premier League giants.

However, he may reassess his demands after Atletico’s poor start to the season.

The club sit three places above the bottom of the Spanish League in 17th after amassing just seven points in eight matches.

They also have just one point from three Champions League group matches and were humbled 4-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week.