Chelsea FC close in on teenage striker

Andre Villas Boas is close to his first major signing as manager of Chelsea as the club have made a bid for striker Romelu Lukaku. The Portuguese manager is understood to have earmarked the young striker as a target after high intensity training sessions and two pre-season friendlies to gain a greater understanding of his squad.

However, Villas Boas has seemed reluctant to give anything else away regarding potential transfer targets for Chelsea this summer. The club have had a bid rejected for Tottenham’s Luka Modric but Villas Boas is keen on the Croatian, seeing the midfielder as the creative spark his side needs.

Other than that, though, Chelsea have been uncharacteristically muted so far this summer. It is believed, however, that after the club return from their pre-season tour of Asia later this month they will begin their activity in the transfer market.

Sources claim that Chelsea are prioritising a holding midfielder as a target this summer after Ghanian Michael Essien was ruled out for six months after sustaining an injury to his knee in training earlier this month. The club have been linked with Scott Parker but it is unclear whether these rumours will materialise into any form of bid.

What is clear, though, is that Villas Boas is keen to sign a striker this summer with Lukaku being his prime target. The teenager, also a target of Arsenal, is understood to be interested in a move away from current club Anderlecht. However, the Belgian club are yet to respond to the bid after sources claimed they were in talks with Chelsea over a possible transfer in June.