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By MARK IRWIN

The Special One targeted the 22-year-old after signing a four-year contract on Tuesday to become Chelsea boss.

And he reckons he can land the French ace despite the player’s concerns about regular football.

But Chelsea will not match the £30m buy-out clause in his contract and know from experience that the Portuguese champions drive a hard bargain.

Asked about the Blues’ interest, Mangala said yesterday: “It’s flattering because Chelsea are a great club and Mourinho is a great coach.

“I intended to stay in Porto but you never know what will happen in football, especially when big clubs are involved.

“At Porto I play every week and I am involved in the title fight and the Champions League. And that is important to me.”

SunSport revealed last Saturday that Mourinho was desperate for Luka Modric to join him again.

Real Madrid paid Spurs £30m for the Croatian last year and a similar offer could see the 27-year-old back in England.

Mourinho sees Mangala and Modric as key to his summer squad rebuilding.

Mangala cost Porto just £5.5m from Standard Liege two years ago.

News of Mourinho’s interest in Mangala confirms suggestions that the new Blues boss is not convinced by David Luiz as a central defender.

The Brazilian is a £35m target for Barcelona. And Mourinho may cash in to help fund his overhaul.

One deal the Blues also hope to close is the capture of German winger Andre Schurrle, 22, from Bayer Leverkusen in a reported £20m deal.

Belgium ace Kevin De Bruyne will move in the opposite direction on loan.

 

 

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