Villas-Boas looks to youth

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is confident his ageing squad can win the league title, but he is keen to sign younger players.

The Portuguese manager, 33, is aiming to better their second-place finish in the English Premier League last season after taking the reins following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

Villas-Boas said he was confident his experienced contingent, including captain John Terry (30) and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba (both 33), could take the London club to their fifth league title.

“The market that we have moved in at the moment, and the players we have shown interest in, they are also of a young age so they are also looking into the future – the future of this club,” Villas-Boas said on Friday.

“You might see similar moves in the future from us because the squad is old – it’s one of the oldest squads in the Premiership.”

“But we respect them and we are happy we have enough quality – we have to be able to challenge for the title. But we are also looking into the future and the options we are looking at in the market at the moment are also looking into the future.”

The Stamford Bridge outfit edged Manchester City to second spot on goal difference last campaign, finishing nine points adrift of champions United.

Villas-Boas said he expected the big six – Chelsea, United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham – to contend for the title.

“Manchester United are the title holders and will be a reference for everybody, but you can see the amount of activity that Manchester City have had in the market, which shows pretty clearly that they have a title objective as well,” he said.

“Liverpool did more or less the same (as City). Tottenham want to get back to the first four of the Premiership so they’ll be challenging as well and Arsenal is always a threat.”

Chelsea complete their tour of Asia against Aston Villa in the final of the Asia Trophy on Saturday.

They face Scottish champions Rangers on August 6 before beginning their Premier League campaign against Stoke City eight days later.