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A couple of days ago I completely disregarded the rumour that Chelsea were going for Porto's left-sided utilityman Alvaro Pereira for a number of reasons that I thought were perfectly reasonable at the time. Now it turns out that it was true all along, which makes me look rather silly (no sillier than I've looked previously though, so that's nice).
I can confirm that we have made a bid for him but we are very far apart in terms of numbers. It's a big, big difference. I am not very confident.
Not only in Porto, he has a tremendous influence in the Uruguayan national team and played an important part in the Copa America. He plays regularly, I think he beat the record for games played in Porto, and gives consistency. He has versatility as well, he can play in side [sic] in midfield, on the wing and left-back, so he can add to any squad in the world.
-Andre Villas-Boas. Source: ChelseaFC. com
Ok then. Everything Villas-Boas has said is true. Pereira's a great player and I can understand Chelsea wanting him at a cut-rate price. What I don't understand is them making a bid that far below Porto's valuation of him, because Andre Villas-Boas knows Porto's valuation of the player. And, of course, now that we know Chelsea want Pereira, if not at the price they have to pay, we can start making assumptions about what else is in the works.
The most obvious thing in my mind is that if Florent Malouda was expendable before, which is arguable, he is now super-expendible. Ashley Cole is still the starting left back with or without Pereira, so no big deal there (at least this year). And finally Villas-Boas has emphasised that the Uruguay international could play in midfield, something he hasn't actually done at club level before, so far as I know. This would seem to rule out another bid for a midfielder, because things would get awfully crowded when Michael Essien returns.
Anyway, Pereira at the prices Porto are demanding remains nonsensical, so unless they cave to Chelsea's demands - because that's sure happened a lot this summer - I still don't see this happening. Considering my track record on this rumour, though...