Blues boss takes stock before deciding transfers

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS will run the rule over his new players before deciding who to keep, who to sell and who to buy, and says Chelsea’s transfer market spending is on hold.

The new Chelsea boss declared himself happy with the squad he is inheriting from Carlo Ancelotti but continues to be strongly linked with Porto striker Falcao, Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric and Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao, as well as Brazilian striker Neymar.

“First, I want to value the players as they are,” he insisted. “We need to take all the information on board. It’s nothing new that, when a manager comes, radical changes are expected. Bearing in mind the success this club has had in the last six or seven years, we have to judge things carefully and make wise decisions. We have plenty of time to judge the market and approach it in a way that’s valuable for the team.”