Sports

Andre Villas-Boas a short price favourite to take over at Chelsea with bookmakers

June 21, 2011

Hamburg insist Chelsea have not made an offer for Eljero Elia — By Livio Caferoglu 21 Jun 2011 09:28:00 Eljero Elia, HSV (PROSHOTS) Related Links Teams Players Hamburg have responded to speculation linking winger Eljero Elia with a summer exit by stating the player will remain in Germany. According to reports, Chelsea are preparing an offer in the region of € 20 million (£17.5m) to lure the Dutchman away from the Bundesliga outfit. However, Elia has a contract until 2014 with Hamburg and, despite already threatening to leave the club last winter, he is expected to stay, amid reported interest from four English clubs, including Chelsea

21 Jun 2011 09:40:00

Europa League: Andre Villas-Boas, FC Porto

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Chelsea‘s attempts to snap up Andre Villas-Boas have caused the betting markets to react with bookies installing the highly rated Portuguese coach as a short price favourite.

News that the Blues are preparing to meet Porto’s release clause for Villas-Boas has caused many bookmakers to abandon the new Chelsea boss market altogether. Only a handful of betting brands are now offering a price on who Roman Abramovich will hire to succeed Carlo Ancelotti.

The 33-year old protege of Jose Mourinho is as short as 1.09 to take the helm at Stamford Bridge. Long term favourite Guus Hiddink has dropped from odds on to a longer 8.0 to become the new No.1 at the Premier League club.

Other contenders who now appear to be out of the running for the Chelsea vacancy are Mark Hughes (17.0), Marco van Basten (26.0), Harry Redknapp (34.0), Pep Guardiola (34.0) and Rafael Benitez (67.0).

Villas-Boas’ reputation has rocketed after he led Porto to a treble of trophies in his first season in charge. He worked for Chelsea as an assistant to Jose Mourinho during 2004-2007 before following the Special One to Inter.

Porto president Pinto da Costa has insisted his club can do nothing if a rival club meets the deposit clause to hire Villas-Boas.

He said: “Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of €15 million £13.2m. If someone deposits €15 million into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything because it is something that is contractually specified.”

Having spent big in January to sign Fernando Torres and David Luiz, the bookies now reckon Roman Abramovich will open his wallet again to hire Chelsea’s latest manager.

Next Chelsea Manager Odds (Shortest Price)
Andre Villas-Boas @ 1.09
Guus Hiddink @ 8.0
Mark Hughes @ 17.0
Marco van Basten @ 26.0
Harry Redknapp @ 34.0
Pep Guardiola @ 34.0
Rafael Benitez @ 67.0