Brazilian star top of AVB's wishlist
Published 22:58 17/12/11 By Bill Mills
Andre Villas-Boas has put Brazil wonderboy Neymar at the top of his Christmas wish list.
The Chelsea manager has been asked by owner Roman Abramovich to oversee a major overhaul of the Stamford Bridge playing resources.
The 19-year-old striker will not come cheaply, but he is the star name that the Blues want to recruit as they prepare for a new golden era.
Neymar is due to play for his club Santos in today’s World Club Championship final against Barcelona in Japan.He scored nine goals in just 15 appearances for Brazil and is one of the hottest properties in world football.
Sources in Brazil claim the youngster will only be sold if one of the pursuing clubs shells out around £45million. An excessive amount for a teenager, but there’s no doubting his ability.
Villas-Boas, whose side defeated Premier League leaders Manchester City on Monday, believes he needs five players to propel his side to the titles that the club’s Russian owner demands of domestic and European domination. He is also keen to reduce the average age of his squad. Chelsea are still favourites to clinch the recruitment of midfielder Cheick Tiote from Newcastle.
The tough-tackling Ivory Coast star is also being tracked by Manchester United and Liverpool.
Villas-Boas is also reviewing his club’s defensive manpower.
He has set his sights on Aly Cissokho, Lyon’s 24-year-old left-back, who was capped for France last year. And he wants highly rated Montpellier centre-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. The 22-year-old defender is also being monitored by Tottenham and Newcastle.
The Blues’ hierarchy are sensitive to any suggestions that there will be a revolution to topple current star players at a stroke.
But Villas-Boas has drawn up his blueprint of an exciting way forward and has an owner who can fund the masterplan.
The challenge will be to prise his targets away from their clubs.
