Chelsea hope to complete the third biggest transfer in British football in the next 48 hours, with Marseille's Didier Drogba expected to sign for a club record fee of £26 million.

The Ivory Coast international is set to meet Chelsea representatives in London today, to discuss a four-year contract.

With Jose Mourinho anxious to finalise his squad before travelling to the United States on Wednesday, and Marseille eager to find a replacement for Drogba - they are chasing the Czech striker Jan Koller - both clubs have been keen to conclude negotiations. Any doubts that the deal might not go through were assuaged when Chelsea increased their initial bid of £19 million, rejected last week, to meet the French club's valuation.

"A definite decision will be taken at the start of the week," said the Marseille president, Christophe Bouchet.

"It must be done quickly so as not to affect the preparations of Marseille or Chelsea." Mourinho has been keen to secure the signing of Drogba after Crespo's exit left Chelsea with just three recognised strikers.

Furthermore, of those, only Mateja Kezman is regarded as a natural goalscorer, with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adrian Mutu often playing in withdrawn roles.

If Fulham fans needed cheering up after their team's meek 2-0 capitulation against Celtic yesterday, Chris Coleman was quick to provide it by announcing the signing of Andy Cole.

The 32-year-old, who joined Blackurn in 2001 from Manchester United in a £8 million deal, played on loan at Fulham in 1991 when they were in the Third Division, has agreed a two-year deal and will be unveiled today.

"We've been looking at Andy for some time and we're delighted to have got him," said Coleman.

"He is very keen to come to London and he has a point to prove. His record speaks for itself: he's the top scorer in Premier League history after Alan Shearer."