English Premier League giants Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday they were set to hold talks with Andre Villas-Boas after he resigned as FC Porto coach earlier in the day.
The 33-year-old – who guided Porto to the domestic double and the Europa League trophies last season – would become the youngest coach in the history of the Premier League should the talks prove successful.
Chelsea, for whom Villas-Boas worked when compatriot and mentor Jose Mourinho was their manager, released a statement declaring their intentions.
“We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated,” a Chelsea club statement read.
“We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future,” added the club, who have been without a manager since sacking Carlo Ancelotti after they finished without a trophy last month. Villas-Boas had informed Porto that he was breaking his contract by paying a 15-million-euro ($21.35m) departure clause. FC Porto said in a statement that they had been “notified of the intention of coach Andre Villas-Boas to terminate his contract by activating the departure clause with immediate effect”.