http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 boss Andre Villas-Boas to make more signings as the strikers pile up
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insisted he was happy with the existing Blues squad ahead of the opening clash against Stoke City on Sunday, but revealed he was considering bringing in new signings before the end of August.
The 33-year-old former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 boss said he was confident the Blues’ trip to Stoke City would be a successful one. Villas-Boas said his side had the quality to secure all three points in the first fixture of the new Premier League season.
However, the Portuguese manager said it didn’t mean he was not planning to bring in further reinforcements at Stamford Bridge. The manager has been in talks with Russian owner Roman Abramovich, who is reportedly looking forward to new signings.
Villas-Boas said while speaking to reporters:
“We are happy with the squad we have at the moment going into the Stoke game, and we're in maximum condition to bring back the three points.
Nobody in the Chelsea dressing room is under evaluation. We're assessing what we have in the market. We're happy this is what is happening for Stoke.
This doesn't mean that we won't be adding up to the 31st. That's what we've been discussing throughout with him.”
Having already had two bids rejected by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luka-Modric-c22857, the Blues are expected to make a further improved third bid. Villas-Boas refused to comment on the rumours of another effort to bring the 25-year-old Croatian
to the Bridge.
So far Chelsea have successfully signed two Belgian internationals, Thibaut Courtois and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Romelu-Lukaku-c31672. While the 19-year-old Courtois was loaned out to Atletico Madrid for regular first team experience, Lukaku is expected to stay with the London side for
the upcoming season.
The arrival of Lukaku means an addition to the already long list of strikers currently present at Stamford Bridge. The 18-year-old former Anderlecht forward joins http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 at Chelsea.
This makes Lukaku the sixth striker, which means there will be fierce competition at Chelsea for a place in the starting line-up. When asked about how he would deal with the excess of strikers, Villas-Boas did not reveal his plans.
Villas-Boas continued:
“In the end, that's a sector where we have a lot of options.
If we decide to bring more in, or take a decision on the players we have, we will make that decision.”
It is certain 33-year-old Drogba will continue on with the Blues, with the Ivorian set to be offered a contract extension which will most likely keep him at the club until the end of his career. Drogba is undoubtedly one of the most prolific strikers at
the club and Villas-Boas is not prepared to let him go.
It has been rumoured that Anelka and Kalou will be either sold or loaned out during the transfer window, with both the strikers having failed to establish themselves over the past season. Torres is expected to stay, with the Blues having paid a record breaking
£50 million for him just this January.
The big question is whether Villas-Boas will keep Sturridge, the England under-21 international. He not only impressed while on loan with Bolton Wanderers in the latter half of last season, but was the top goal scorer for Chelsea during pre-season.
Will the Blues boss keep the talented Sturridge who has proven himself in the English Premier League, or will he put his faith in the young Belgian forward, who has no experience in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749. It remains to be seen what the Portuguese manager decides on strikers,
with just 18 days remaining until the transfer window closes.
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