Chelsea transfer news: Blues to negotiate with former manager for £25m attacker?

The Blues have started pre-season training this week with new head coach Enzo Maresca having to manage a wide array of players at their Cobham training ground.

Those numbers will naturally be reduced as the summer transfer window progresses, particularly at a time when Chelsea remain in the market for new players.

Defender Tosin Adarabioyo, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, versatile attacker Omari Kellyman and forward Marc Guiu have all moved to Stamford Bridge in recent weeks.

Renato Veiga is also on the brink of arriving from Basel, but it has been suggested that the West Londoners are still eager to sign another winger.

According to Record, Chelsea have put themselves into the race to sign Porto winger Francisco Conceicao.

During Euro 2024, the 21-year-old made the headlines when he scored Portugal's winner in the 2-1 victory over Czech Republic, while he would also go on to make one start and three substitute outings in the competition.

After Portugal's elimination at the quarter-final stage, his future is now a hot topic for debate with a release clause in the region of £25m said to be present in his contract and only active this week.

From then, it will stand at approximately £38m, naturally resulting in any admirers in the playmaker's signature wanting to get a deal over the line in the coming days.

The report claims that Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig are all contemplating formal offers for Conceicao, the son of former Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao.

Could Villas Boas stand in Chelsea's way?

Having lasted just 40 games as Chelsea boss between June 2011 and February 2012, Andre Villas Boas is not highly ranked among the club's best-ever managers.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese is now in a position of power at Porto having become their president in April, signifying a period of change at a club that he has also managed in the past.

Villas Boas allegedly has no intention of accepting any offer below the set £25m fee, nor will he be willing to entertain a proposal which involves instalments.

With Conceicao having only contributed six goals and five assists from 35 Primeira Liga and Champions League appearances in 2023-24, that may result in interested clubs looking elsewhere.