Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas will be working overtime in the January market to overhaul his squad. The Daily Express says Villas-Boas has been given £150million by Roman Abramovich to transform Chelsea from title has-beens to recharged challengers.

Villas-Boas wants four players to revamp his ageing squad, and has already discussed his targets with owner Abramovich. He will kick off his spending with the £7m capture of Bolton central defender Gary Cahill when the January transfer window opens. He also wants a right-back, a midfield play-maker and a striker.

Villas-Boas knows he will probably have to wait until the summer to do the bulk of his business, but that will not stop him making a number of fresh enquiries next month.

He remains keen on Porto defender Alvaro Pereira, who he believes he can convert into a specialist right-back, while Chelsea officials have sounded out Everton over midfielder Jack Rodwell.