Managerless Chelsea have agreed to pay the release clause for Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas, according to reports in Portugal.
The west London club are looking to fill the vacancy created by the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season and speculation suggests they have targeted Villas-Boas, who led Porto to the domestic double and Europa League success last term.
The 33-year-old has a clause in his contract which allows him to move clubs should a release fee of 15million euros (£13.2m) be met.
Villas-Boas, who has also interested Inter Milan, is regarded as one of the brightest coaching talents in Europe and his success in Portugal has seen him described as the "new Jose Mourinho".
Porto president Pinto da Costa admitted the club were powerless to prevent him from leaving should certain financial conditions be met.
He said: "Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of 15million euros."
"If someone deposits 15million euros into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything because it is something that is contractually specified."
