How serious are Chelsea about David Villa?

Over the weekend there were widespread rumours that Chelsea were reviving an interest in Valencia`s David Villa, with a view to signing the Spanish hitman over the Christmas transfer window.

That`s a transfer window that will resolutely open for Chelsea, now that the Court of Arbitration of Sport has suspended the sentence of FIFA`s Dispute Resolution Chamber, pending an appeal. Chelsea will therefore be able to buy and sell players in January. And with many of Chelsea`s offensive players away at the African Cup of Nations (Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou), Chelsea are, apparently, thinking of bringing in long-stranding target David Villa.

Chelsea therefore sent a scout to watch Villa play for Spain over the weekend. The match was a friendly against Argentina, which was striking for the 'physical` nature of the Argentine game, which consisted of kicking the Spanish players. Chelsea`s scout in Spain is ex-Valencia player Juan Cruz Sol. The problem for Chelsea is that he was joined by Manchester United`s scout in Spain, Fernando Gómez, leading to speculation that Chelsea and ManYoo would be competing for the Valencia striker`s signature. Neither scout said anything, although it is thought that they were looking not only at David Villa but also winger David Silva.

The Daily Star today suggests that Chelsea are preparing a bid for David Villa as well as Madrid pony-tailed defender Sergio Ramos for some £50 million / €50 million for Villa / £25 million just for Villa (delete according to the source).

Chelsea`s interest in Villa is long-standing. Valencia have resisted that for two summers now, last summer Chelsea going head to head with Real Madrid and Barcelona. To the surprise of many, Villa ended the summer staying at Valencia, with a key factor being Villa`s oft-stated preference to stay in Spain.

Nevertheless, it is thought that a key factor that could push Villa out is that Valencia`s finances are in a disastrous state, having announced a debt of €550 million, and works on the planned new stadium at a critical phase. The club`s new President, Manuel Llorente, recently presented a budget that foresees €44 million in revenue from sales either of grounds or players. This was widely interpreted as being a green light to offload some of the club`s more profitable players.

David Villa is a sensible player who will weigh up any transfer in terms of sporting objectives. Neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona (both of whom made important changes to their frontlines over the summer) will be interested, which means that he might have to consider what he previously rejected: a move overseas.

Llorente is, however, clear that he will not sanction any sale over the winter: after a poor season 2008-2009, Valencia consider it essential to return to the Champions League, and both Villa and Silva are key players in that endeavour. Nevertheless, he has also announced that there will be belt-tightening: the club will, he says, not be able to sign €20 million players over the next few years, and that €550 million debt came after losing €70 million last season.

He also admitted that Villa and Silva were the subject of considerable attention. "Our footballers interest Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United, but we think that to qualify for the next Champions League we need players to stay".

With such crippling debts, that principled stance could change, although Chelsea would need to put more on the table than the £25 million rumoured in the News of the World, which also suggests that David Villa is now Carlo Ancelotti`s 'number 1 target`. Other sources point out that Villa recently sacked his agent, apparently because that agent failed to engineer a big-money move over the summer.

Lest there be any doubt, Villa is a model professional on and off the pitch. He`s also a cold-blooded striker who has scored 10 goals in 13 games for Valencia, and he is likely to be part of Spain`s front two with Fernando Torres in South Africa next summer. Should a transfer happen, Chelsea would insist that it takes place over the winter, to provide for cover whilst Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are at the African Cup of Nations. Moreover, Chelsea`s transfer ban has only been suspended pending an appeal, so the club will need to buy now, bearing in mind that that ban could well kick back in later.

Should there be a head to head with Manchester United, Chelsea could well come out second best, particularly since Chelsea are in a hurry and Manchester United aren`t. Neither are Valencia.

That said, there are few better strikers in Europe today. David Villa would make a magnificent signing.

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