Villas-Boas: Drogba and Kalou are committed to the Chelsea cause

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas says both Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are committed to the Chelsea cause, despite the pair not signing new contracts. The Ivorian duo’s deals expire at the end of the current campaign and both can discuss pre-contract agreements with other sides in January. “Kalou has been offered a contract and we will continue to talk,” Villas-Boas said. “In January players are available to discuss their future. The fact they are emotionally attached to the club means we count on them. “Their compromise and success with club will never be in question.” Drogba has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, while Kalou has struggled to force his way into the first team, thanks in part to the impressive form of new signing Juan Mata. “Different players react differently,” said Villas-Boas on Mata’s impressive start. “I think the personal and social wellbeing is valuable (in adjusting to a new league). “Didier straight after joining from Marseille had a scoring spree with Chelsea. Most important is for club to support the players with this change.”

Chelsea chasing Pato

Chelsea are trailing AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato according  with a cash-plus-player deal being mooted. Manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to try and persuade Blues owner Roman Abramovich to try and sign the Brazilian forward. A £30 million-player-plus-cash deal is in the pipeline for the player who has been tracked by Chelsea for the last three years. Villas-Boas see’s the striker as the perfect foil for Fernando Torres and believes their partnership could fire the club to Champions League success. Chelsea are understood to be willing to offer £20 million plus either Nicolas Anelka or Salomon Kalou in exchange for Pato’s services. It’s thought that Milan are prepared to let the Brazilian go if they can secure the signature of Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli. However they may ask Chelsea for more money if they do go ahead with a move for Balotelli who has admitted he wants a move away from City. Pato scored 14 goals in 25 appearances last season at the San Siro despite being afflicted by minor injures all year losing his place in the national team to Neymar in the process. However the 21-year-old has plenty of Champions League experience for a player of his age and fits the profile of the type of player Villas-Boas wants at Stamford Bridge.