Chelsea boss Grant is convinced a £10million January deal for the Bolton hitman is in the bag.
Moody French striker Anelka has a verbal agreement with Bolton that he can join a top-four club in next months transfer window. And he is expected to be unveiled as Chelseas latest acquisition early in the New Year. Chelsea have been locked in a battle for Anelkas signature with Uniteds Alex Ferguson and Manchester City for six months.
Grant is a long-time admirer of Anelka, 28, and tried to lure him to Portsmouth when he was their director of football. Chelseas nine-goal striker Didier Drogba is out with a knee injury and will then head off to the African Nations Cup in January with the Ivory Coast.
His absence leaves the Blues woefully short of firepower as the club battles to rip the Premier League crown back from Fergies reigning champions. Anelka signed a new four-year deal containing the top-four clause in the summer. Chelsea skipper John Terry is also out for six weeks with a broken foot.