Chelsea unlikely to move for Modrić again, says Villas-Boas

Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas does not expect the Blues to table another bid for Luka Modrić in January.

Chelsea had a number of offers for the Croatia playmaker turned down by Tottenham Hotspur over the course of the summer – but after the Stamford Bridge side secured the transfer deadline day capture of Raul Meireles from Liverpool, Villas-Boas confirmed they are unlikely to look to sign Modrić again.

“No I don’t think so,” said Villas-Boas when asked if the Blues would return with another bid for the midfielder.

“The market has closed now and we have a good three months to focus on the real objectives. When the window opens, it opens, but I won’t speculate about what’s going to happen in January.”

The Blues snapped up Portugal midfielder Meireles for around £12m and Villas-Boas believes the 28-year-old will fit in well with the style of play he is hoping to implement at Stamford Bridge.

“We wanted to fill a space in midfield,” he continued. “Of course Yossi [Benayoun, who has joined Arsenal on loan] had that kind of variability – he could play in the middle and he could play out in the channels or behind the striker.

“But we felt that towards what we wanted to achieve in terms of a playing style, Raul would fit the requirements. It was an extremely good deal for us and we are very happy to have him here.”

And the Chelsea boss also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender David Luiz are fit and available for selection ahead of the Londoners’ trip to Sunderland on Saturday.

Cech missed the last two games with a knee injury and Luiz has yet to play this term having picked up a thigh problem after returning from the Copa América.

Striker Didier Drogba, however, is still recovering after being knocked unconscious during the game against Norwich and will not travel to the Stadium of Light.

Audio: Villas-Boas on the returns of Cech and Luiz