FEARS over the future of Michael Essien could prompt new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas to return to Porto for £35million-rated midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Much depends on the outcome of Chelsea's pursuit of wantaway Spurs star star Luka Modric. But Moutinho was on Villas-Boas's original wish list and talks could open this week.
Porto president Pinto Da Silva will not budge on the price, especially as 25 per cent of the fee must go to Moutinho's former club Sporting Lisbon.
Da Silva insisted: "We do not reduce by one euro the price of our stars for the big foreign clubs."
Essien, who has a history of knee problems, was hurt again in training last week and is expected to be out for several months.
In other Chelsea transfer business, central defender Alex was last night moving closer to becoming an
Talks between the clubs became more urgent after the Germans discovered they have little chance of landing either Manchester City's Jerome Boeteng or Inter star Lucio.
Alex, 29, is under contract until 2013 but has lost his first team place to fellow Brazilian David Luiz.
Atletico Madrid, Parma and Paris St Germain are also interested.
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