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Villas-Boas plays down Rodwell talk

Jack Rodwell's future has been the subject of much speculation © PA Photos

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Andre Villas-Boas has declared Chelsea have not been lining up a January transfer for Jack Rodwell.

Villas-Boas was this week linked with a £20 million bid for the Everton midfielder, who made his senior England debut last month. Toffees boss David Moyes has since stated there had been no offers from Chelsea for the 20-year-old, and Villas-Boas subsequently clarified his club's stance on the issue.

"I saw that we'd been linked with him," Villas-Boas said. "First, it's important to clarify that it's unfair that I constantly comment on other players.

"In midfield, we don't need players. Rodwell has been playing there this season. Midfield is not a sector where we're desperate to strengthen our squad. So at the moment those stories are false."

Villas-Boas also reiterated Chelsea would not resurrect their bid to sign Luka Modric next month but he refused to rule out another attempt some time in the future. The Blues had more than one big-money offer for Tottenham playmaker Modric snubbed this summer and will come up against him in Thursday's Premier League game at White Hart Lane.

"In the future, I don't know about Modric," Villas-Boas said. "We're not looking at it at the moment.

"He's an extremely creative player, one of the greatest talents in the world, a player who will have tremendous success."

Chelsea's midfield will be reinforced in January by the return of Michael Essien from a long-term knee injury. That could be the cue for 18-year-old Josh McEachran to be sent out on loan, with Swansea having already declared an interest.

"It's fair to say we have to look at some proposals for Josh's loan," Villas-Boas said. "His playing time has not been much. But, because of his talent, it's not 100% sure that we'd send him out on loan, even if clubs come in for him."

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