VILLAS-BOAS INTEREST CONFIRMED
Chelsea Football Club released the following statement on Tuesday evening:
‘We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated. We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future.’Source: http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2379963,00.html
Vitor Pereira Is The New Coach Of FC Porto
Vitor Pereira is the new coach of FC Porto and signed a valid contract for two seasons, starting roles immediately. President Pinto da Costa will make the official announcement at 18:00, at a press conference at the Stadium of the Dragon. In parallel, the amount has been deposited on the termination clause of the contractwork of André Villas-Boas.
THT Verdict: Porto have wasted no time to appoint Villas-Boas’ successor. Pereira was the assistant of the Chelsea-bound Portuguese last season. The fact that the club hasn’t mentioned anything about this being a temporary appointment may lead one to thing that Porto were prepared for the manager to leave, and had already earmarked Pereira as a replacement. Also, the club has announced that they have received the full amount of the release clause. A Chelsea announcement is awaited.
Source: http://www.fcporto.pt/Noticias/Futebol/noticiafutebol_futvitorpereiratreinador_210611_62460.asp
Cristian Zapata’s Agent Confirms Liverpool interest.
Zapata, last week, spoke of his desire to join Liverpool; today his agent has confirmed that the player could be well on his way to the Merseyside club, claiming that Copa America is slowing down the negotiation process.
THT Verdict:
Likely. Liverpool is definitely in hunt of a Centre Half, however Zaparta may not be a primary target.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/3lkwohc
Downing Strongly Linked To Liverpool
If the photographs circulating on the internet (now also featured on few British online newspapers) are to be believed, Stewart Downing could be well on his way to Liverpool.
THT Verdict: Likely. The player has already hinted to leave Aston Villa, Liverpool have the money and if they are not able to land Mata, they will surely get Downing. Although we understand that Downing may not be a signing that could propell Liverpool towards the top 4.
Source: http://yfrog.com/kggskbj
Andres Villas-Boas Resigns As Porto Coach
“(Translated text) The F. C. Porto received Tuesday, a fax on behalf of André Villas-Boas, where the football coach announced that terminates the contract with the club by paying the termination clause.
Andre Villas-Boas will pay 15 million termination clause, told the Lusa Agency official source of sportsmen. The coach is thus free to sign contract with Chelsea, with which is already compromised.
The young technician, 33, ends well, with its connection to the “dragons”, which only lasted one season, enough to win the Europa League in 2010/2011, the Portuguese league, unbeaten, and the Cup of Portugal Super Bowl.”
THT Verdict: Highly likely. Chelsea have been in negotiations with Porto for Villas-Boas, and are expected to make an official announcement soon. A big move forward for Boas and an incredible story for Chelsea FC, as the club would have appointed a manager who hasn’t managed even a single game in the competition they aspire to win the most, but is nonetheless an extremely talented tactician. When one looks at Boas, one should consider a decade of closely studying the leagues in Portugal, England and Italy and not just the fact that he has been manager for an year.
Source: http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Desporto/Interior.aspx?content_id=1884477
Barça Ponder Move For Luiz?
According to newspaper – Sport – FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in Chelsea defender David Luiz. However the Blues signed Luiz at the end of January for €25 million plus Nemanja Matic, and have tied down the defender for over 4 years. Those numbers put the player completely outside Barça’s reach, unless the Catalans will decide that, as with Fabregas, selling clubs need to give Barça a discount for being.
THT Verdict – Improbable. Despite the fact that David Luiz is an exceptionally talented individual, chances are pretty bleak that the player might be able to join the Spanish and European Champions next season. Chelsea is experiencing an exodus of young players from their academy and would loathe losing one of their most expensive signings in recent times. Moreover, without a manager, the management would not like to tamper with the relatively younger players in the squad, in the wake of the Financial Fair Play regulations.
Source: http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=523732
Tottenham moving for forgotten German star
Harry Redknapp is reported to be on the look-out for a new striker – and he is considering German countryman Lukas Podolski. The 26-year-old has scored 42 goals in 86 appearances for his national team, including a goal against England at last year’s World Cup, and scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last season. Podolski, who currently plays for FC Cologne after a £10million move from Bayern Munich in 2009, said in April, “Without wanting to sound arrogant, I could succeed at a big European club, in England or Spain”
THT Verdict: Unlikely, but a potential ‘Deal-of-the-season’. If Harry manages to bring the beleaguered German international to White Hart Lane, and also keep hold of the mercurial Gareth Bale and the creative Van der Vaart, we can brace ourselves to see one of the best attacks in England. Podolski has been besieged with a number of issues which did not allow him to utilize his potential to the fullest. However, if Harry manages to resurrect his career, we can very well see them in Champions League next season. The icing on the cake is that Podolski won’t cost an insane amount of money and if Spurs sell Modric, they can not only finance this deal, but may also be able to look for another potent striker.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/3vjk9lq
Czech shot stopper Jan Sebek becomes the fifth youngster set to leave Stamford Bridge permanently.
Media reports suggest Sebek, who has spent four years at the club, has rejected a new contract offered to him and completed a free transfer to Czech outfit FK Baumit Jablonec.
THT Verdict: Seems like the exodus of Chelsea’s academy products is a never ending process, quite detrimental to the club’s much talked about youth development project. Sebek, who was initially drafted in to replace Cech in the long run, was unable to break into the first-team at Stamford Bridge. Sebek has played regularly for the reserve team and a few times he has been involved with the first team and taken part in training sessions as well. But it seems like he has been unable to make the progress he had hoped for. This move could prove to be fruitful for Sebek’s development as Jablonec is a side that traditionally gives young players an opportunity to shine.
Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6998453,00.html
Roma close in on arsenal’s Clichy; Roma Sporting Director Walter Sabatini heading to London for talks.
Media reports suggest that Roma are closing-in on Gael Clichy with a reported 7 million pounds offer. Arsenal are understood to be holding on to a 10 million pounds valuation of the player.
THT Verdict: Likely; Clichy has one more year on his contract and Wenger has no choice but to cash in on the player. Arsenal are also negotiating with Newcastle United to land Jose Enrique as a replacement. Arsenal are not in a situation to dictate terms in this case and might just have to let the player leave on cheap unless of course Liverpool could convince the player to join them and pay over and above Roma.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/6bus4ey