Updated 19:10
ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS is set to become the next Chelsea manager and is in the process of negotiating terms with the club, it has been confirmed.
Touted as the ‘next Jose Mourinho’, the 33-year-old also worked under Bobby Robson and like Mourinho, secured the league and UEFA Cup for Porto, taking the club to a record 36-match unbeaten run in the process.
Porto earlier this afternoon confirmed that coach Andre Villas-Boas had tendered his resignation and said his contract will be terminated once his €15million release clause was paid.
The Portuguese champions made the announcement in a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, paving the way for Villas-Boas to join Chelsea.
The west London club were searching for a coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked at the end of last season.
Villas-Boas guided the Dragons to the domestic double and Europa League success last season. And he is no stranger to Chelsea, having worked there under Jose Mourinho.
Villas-Boas, who was reportedly also on Inter Milan’s wanted list, is set for a dramatic salary increase, with reports suggesting as much as £4.4m-a-year has been offered.
One of his first signings could be to bring Porto’s star striker Falcao to Stamford Bridge along with him, the £25m-rated Colombian having impressed as the Dragons won the Europa League final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, where the 25-year-old netted the only goal against Braga.
- additional reporting Paul Fennessy, PA
