Guus Hiddink – who enjoyed a successful spell as caretaker boss in 2008/2009 and continues to hold a close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - looks set to take up a sporting director role at Stamford Bridge once his exit from the Turkish Football Federation is confirmed.

So it now appears Chelsea are ready to appoint an up-and-coming coach to oversee first-team affairs.

Villas-Boas, 33, would certainly fit the bill after guiding the Dragons to domestic and Europa League success last season.

And he is no stranger to the west London club, having worked there under Jose Mourinho.

While Chelsea will not be drawn on any specific candidate, they maintain an appointment could be made “in the next few days”.

Porto, though, felt it necessary to react to stories in the Portuguese media suggesting a deal had already been done for Villas-Boas’ release and he was on his way to London.

However, president Pinto da Costa admits the club could not prevent their manager from leaving should certain financial conditions be met.

“Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of 15million euros,” he confirmed.

“If someone deposits 15million euros into our account and he wants to go, we cannot do anything because it is something that is contractually specified.”

Villas-Boas, who was reportedly also on Inter Milan’s wanted list, would dramatically increase his salary with a move back to Chelsea as head coach, with reports suggesting as much as £4.4m-a-year on offer for the man expected to deliver the Champions League title.

One of his first signings could be to bring Porto’s star striker Falcao to Stamford Bridge along with him, the £25m-rated Colombian having impressed as the Dragons won the Europa League final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, where the 25-year-old netted the only goal against Braga.

Elsewhere, Genk’s 19-year-old keeper Thibaut Courtois claims he has been earmarked as the long-term successor to Petr Cech and is set for a move to Stamford Bridge as part of the transfer of midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.

Courtois said on FM Brussel: “It’s wonderful that they [Chelsea] have such confidence in me and see me as the successor of Petr Cech.

“Chelsea has a great sporting level and I can grow at ease for a few years until I reach the first team.

“This will not happen in a year or two, but three, four or five years. I might as well develop myself quietly.”

The young keeper, though, expects to remain in Belgium to build up his experience, adding: “Maybe I’ll stay two years, it will depend on how I develop here, then we’ll see if I will be lent to an English team.”