Villas-Boas has sent the rumour mill into overdrive by saying he wants to sign Hulk from Porto.
That’s the gossip column for tomorrow’s papers sorted then.
Andre Villas-Boas has admitted he would like to sign the Porto attacker during the summer, a player he managed last season.
He told a Portuguese media outlet TSF: “We have Kalou and Malouda, both of whom are nearing the end of their contracts, while Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge are the future,”
“As such, there will surely be a place to fill and I see room for an explosive player on the wing, someone who is strong in one-on-one situations and Hulk fits that profile.”
We’re not so sure how motivating his words will be for Kalou and Malouda, who could both be needed between now and the end of the season.
This could be a situation where his man-management skills are called into question.
Hulk would surely be an interesting addition to Chelsea, Villas-Boas knows him far better than anyone else having managed him successfully in Porto, but there are questions about how much he would cost.
He has an exorbitant release clause fee of around 100 million Euros, which would only come into play if Porto do not agree to a sale at a lower price.
Villas-Boas will hope his relations with Porto may sway the club into a deal, at around £30 million.
Hulk will have a point to prove to English fans, he has never lived up to his star billing in matches against Manchester United, Arsenal and more recently Manchester City.
After Porto lodged a complaint to UEFA about City fans singing ‘You’re not incredible’ as unsporting, he would certainly receive a vitriolic reception when Chelsea travel to the Etihad.
This will be one to watch in the summer.
Perhaps it is a good idea of Villas-Boas to publicly announce his ambition to move the club on in the summer and sign new players, to show the Chelsea hierarchy he has a vision for improvement.
Now he just has to clinch a Champions League spot to be able to put it into place.
Should Chelsea sign Hulk?
image: © *dirk
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