Essien injury forces Chelsea to change plans

Published on: 29 July 2011

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has appeared to rule out a raid on former club Porto as replacement for injured Michael Essien.

Midfielder Joao Moutinho is believed to be on Chelsea's list of targets after they had two bids for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric rejected.

But Villas-Boas, talking to Portuguese TV station Antena 1, said: 'Joao Moutinho is, without doubt, a super footballer, but we are very competitive in that area.

"The injury to [Michael] Essien has changed my plans, but with Oriol Romeu [who's been signed from Barcelona] we have a player who can increase our level.

"At this moment, I don't need to think about more reinforcements. That will only happen now if we suffer any more setbacks which, of course, I don't desire."

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