Having been rebuffed in his attempts to sign Sergio Aguero, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti may now switch his attentions to Mario Balotelli after he admitted to being a huge admirer of the Inter Milan hitman.

Atletico majority shareholder Miguel Angel Gil Marin confimed on Wednesday evening that Los Colchoneros had rejected a bid for Aguero, 21, but refused to name the club concerned.

However, the offer is widely believed to have come from Chelsea given the fact they had a 'massive' offer for the Argentina international turned down in the summer and are known to have following his progress closely since.

But it now appears the Blues may change tact and channel their efforts into luring Balotelli, 19, to Stamford Bridge in the New Year.

The precocious Italy Under-21 star is facing an uncertain future at the San Siro, with Jose Mourinho culling him from his squad for the clash with Fiorentina last weekend following a breach of club discipline.

That has led to reports suggesting the Nerazzurri may be willing to part with the temperamental teenager during the January transfer, with Arsenal already been strongly linked with a big-money swoop.

And now Chelsea could be among those leading the hunt, with Ancelotti revealing that he would have no issue working with the powerful frontman - in a sly dig to fromer adversary Jose Mourinho perhaps?

"I'd take a player like Balotelli," Ancelotti told Italian daily La Stampa.

"I like him and with me he would always play.

"But I don't know how easy he is to handle. If he is really undisciplined, Mourinho is right to punish him. But I hope he doesn't waste his talent."