Jose Mourinho has ruled
out a multi-million pound summer swoop for Valencia's David Villa,
claiming that Chelsea's days of 'spending silly money' are now
firmly in the past.
The Blues have been frequently linked with the striker, who will be
aiming to orchestrate their downfall in Wednesday's UEFA Champions
League quarter final meeting at Stamford Bridge.
Villa has an astronomical escape clause in his contract to the
value of 150million (£101million), a price so prohibitive that
only a few clubs across Europe could even come close to his asking
price.
Chelsea were linked with a £45million bid for the Spanish
international earlier in the season, but Mourinho has underlined
that the era of lavish spending at Stamford Bridge has now given
way to a more pragmatic approach.
The Portuguese boss previously revealed the club cannot afford
Porto defender Pepe - a comment interpreted as highlighting a rift
with Blues owner Roman Abramovich - and now it appears as though
Villa has had his name struck off the English champions' wish-list
as well.
"He [Villa] is a great player and yes, I think he could play in a
big team, but Chelsea don't want to sign him," Mourinho told a
press conference.
"We have got two excellent forwards as things stand. Also, from
what I hear about the price, they are asking silly money for
him.
"As you see all over the game these days, we hear daft prices
mentioned for players.
"I can tell you that here at Chelsea it is all over - spending
silly money."
