• Premier League

Porto chief fears stars will head to Chelsea

ESPNsoccernet staff
June 22, 2011
Falcao scored the winner in the Europa League final © Getty Images
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Having lost manager Andre Villas-Boas after Chelsea paid his €15 million contract release clause, FC Porto chairman Pinto da Costa admits he is worried that some of the club's star players may leave under similar circumstances.

The likes of midfielder Joao Moutinho and striker Radamel Falcao have been linked with moves, possibly to Villas-Boas' likely destination, Chelsea, but Da Costa is not keen to see any of the Europa League winners' assets leave with the boss in the summer.

"If there are contracts with release clauses, we have to be prepared that some player might want to leave if the stipulated figure is met," he said. "I will not go to any country to negotiate. Just like it happened with Andre Villas-Boas, there will be no talks: there is an account number and money deposited there."

Thus far, there has been no contact, as Da Costa said: "We have not had any contact about the transfer of players and we do not know the intention of any one of them to leave."

However, on Tuesday, the agent of Falcao revealed that his client could be tempted by a move to London, telling the Sun: "If Villas Boas is the new coach of Chelsea it is normal for players that are closest to follow him.''

Porto have set a minimum release clause price of €30 million for Falcao's services while Moutinho's, despite spending just €12 million to land him from Sporting Lisbon last summer, stands at a similar level.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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