Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea target youth, says Andre Villas-Boas
Andre Villas-Boas admits Chelsea's recruitment policy this summer had to be focussed on youth due to the age of the current squad.[LNB]The Portuguese coach, who took over from Italian Carlo Ancelotti last month, has already bought Thibault Courtois before loaning the Belgian goalkeeper to Atletico Madrid and agreed terms with another teenager, Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu. [LNB]The club have also been heavily linked with Birmingham defender Scott Dann and Anderlecht striking sensation Romelu Lukaku, who are 24 and 18 respectively. [LNB] Young at the heart of it: Josh McEachran and others his age are hoping to force their way into the Chelsea team[LNB]'The market we have moved in, and the players we have shown interest in, they are of a young age,' Villas-Boas said on the eve of Chelsea's Asia Trophy final against Premier League rivals Aston Villa. [LNB]'You might see similar moves in the future from us because the squad is old, it's one of the oldest in the league. [LNB] Old boys club: The likes of Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole are almost the same age as the manager[LNB]'We respect them and we are happy enoughwith the quality we have to be able to challenge for the title. But theoptions we are looking at in the market at the moment are also looking into the future. [LNB]Chelsea have a host of '30-somethings' in their squad including skipper John Terry, vice-captain Frank Lampard, strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and defender Ashley Cole. [LNB]Villas-Boas said he had been particularly impressed with the pre-season form of 21-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge, back with the club after a successful loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last season. [LNB] Dan the man: Sturridge, another youngster, has impressed in pre-season[LNB]'This is the group where he belongs and he has shown the quality he showed at Bolton,' said the new coach. 'He has a natural ability and amazing physical qualities. [LNB]'He is a great prospect. We will make a decision soon and inform Daniel on his situation but I think he has shown a lot of his qualities and he has shown enough capacity to be in this environment and this squad.'[LNB]There have also been encouraging signs in pre-season from the squad's current young pretenders, namely Josh McEachran. [LNB] Helping out: Chelsea have teamed up with Barclays Spaces for Sports to deliver a three-year programme using sport to improve the prospects of young people in Hong Kong[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEMalaysian FA apologise to Chelsea for alleged anti-Semetic abuse aimed at BenayounDesailly warns Villas-Boas: Don't bottle big decisions or the egos will hound you outChelsea wait on bid for Dann as work permit application for Rajkovic is heard[LNB]
