• Premier League

Villas-Boas expects Lukaku arrival

ESPN staff
August 12, 2011
Andre Villas-Boas: Chelsea worry too much about age

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is confident the club will finally complete the signing of starlet Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht within "days or hours", admitting the talented youngster is a player they "couldn't afford to lose".

The 18-year-old prodigy underwent a medical on Monday and was expected to finalise personal terms before sealing a switch to Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

The move for Lukaku, who featured for Belgium in the goalless draw with Slovenia on Wednesday, was subsequently delayed but Villas-Boas does not expect any further hiccups, predicting Lukaku will join his side imminently.

"He is one of those players we couldn't afford to lose because of his potential and that's why we made the move in the market even though our team is competitive enough in that sector of the field," Villas-Boas said.

"But bearing in mind what he has been doing in the last couple of years since starting at Anderlecht at the young age of 16 we didn't want to let this boy escape and it is a question of days or hours until this done."

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas refused to speculate on reports Chelsea are set to make a third bid to sign Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric, saying: "He [Modric] is a player who doesn't belong to this club and it is unfair to make a statement."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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