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Villas-Boas tipped to make Inter switch

Andre Villas-Boas' Chelsea future is uncertain © Getty Images

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Porto president Pinto da Costa has said he expects the club's former manager Andre Villas-Boas to end up at Inter Milan if he is shown the door at Chelsea.

Villas-Boas joined Chelsea from Porto in the summer having won the treble of the Portuguese Liga, Portuguese Cup and Europa League titles but has struggled to replicate his successful system in the Premier League.

And although Da Costa has backed his former charge to succeed at Stamford Bridge, he is certain that Villas-Boas will eventually end up at Inter, who also made a move for the Portuguese in June but were unwilling to meet his €15 million release clause.

"I think that Villas-Boas is doing well at Chelsea," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The only thing that could make him leave Chelsea will be the team's failure to qualify for the Champions League."

But failure to qualify for Europe's flagship competition is looking increasingly likely with Chelsea slipping to fifth in the Premier League following a run of four games without a win.

"If he were to leave Chelsea, I am sure he will become the next coach at Inter," Da Costa said. "He has the right personality to coach the Nerazzurri. In the past, I said the same thing about [Jose] Mourinho. However, in my opinion Villas-Boas made a mistake to leave Porto so soon.

"He thought that this was a unique opportunity, but he would surely get other offers like that."

Villas-Boas' position as Chelsea manager looks increasingly insecure following a heated clash with his players in front of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, this week.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.