Villas-Boas will cost Blues €15m

CHELSEA remain confident a new manager will shortly be in place as Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas looks set to move to Stamford Bridge — but with Porto insisting as yet there has been no official offer to trigger his €15 million release clause.

The Blues are seeking to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who was unceremoniously axed at the end of last season, just 12 months after guiding the west London club to a league and FA Cup double.

Guus Hiddink — who enjoyed a successful spell as caretaker boss in 2008/09 and continues to enjoy a close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich — emerged as the leading candidate to return to Stamford Bridge.