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Villas-Boas to raid Liverpool for Torres’ support act

| 16.08.2011

Chelsea’s search for some creative spark from midfield could lead them to Anfield, as they consider making a bid for Liverpool’s Portuguese international Raul Meireles.

Despite only signing for the Reds a year ago and contributing five goals in his first season in the Premier League, Meireles will be allowed to leave Merseyside to help offset the club’s £100million summer spending spree.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish had anticipated selling the former Porto man abroad, but it now appears he would be willing to let him go to one of their Premier League rivals for a fee of around £12million.

New Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas knows the player, who was voted PFA Fans’ Player of the Year last season, from their time together at Porto and believes Meireles will prove the ideal foil for long term summer target Luka Modric.

Chelsea kicked off their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a 0-0 draw at Stoke City in which £50million man Fernando Torres showed an improvement in form.

The Blues’ midfield however, was pedestrian for much of the game and struggled to create enough to break down the Potters.

The current odds of Chelsea winning the title are 11/4, with their chances being greatly enhanced if they can add both Meireles and Modric to their ranks.

Despite having a £22million bid rejected earlier in the summer by Spurs for the Croatian, Chelsea still remain hopeful of securing his services and are thought to be putting £30million plus Yossi Benayoun into the deal.

Tottenham who are in the market for a striker are believed to be holding out for their London rivals to offer Didier Drogba as part of the deal.

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Author

John Klee