Chelsea Transfer News: Prodigious Trio Remain on Blues Radar as Villas-Boas Eyes Youth

Talks between Chelsea and three young stars have been confirmed so far this week, as the Blues aim to boost their squad with both attacking and defensive options before the end of the January transfer window.

At the start of the week Shakhtar Donestsk CEO Sergei Palkin confirmed that Andre Villas-Boas had made a bid for young Brazilian star Willian valued at around €20 million.

At just 23 years old, the attacking midfielder has set the Ukranian league on fire since making the move from Corinthians in 2007.

Liverpool were also said to be interested in the Brazil international, but he looks set to stay in Ukraine, with Palkin confirming the bid from the Blues had been turned down.

"We have received a bid from Chelsea for Willian valued at €20million, but he is not for sale," he said, as reported by Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, Belgian outfit Genk have confirmed that Chelsea have also begun talks over the transfer of highly coveted youngster Kevin de Bruyne, who has been chased by the club for some time now.

The 20 year old has made his intentions to leave Genk for Stamford Bridge clear on many occasions, and after club director of sport, Dirk Degraen flew to London, a deal looks set to be confirmed this week.

"Dirk Degraen is in London and the expectation is that it [the transfer of De Bruyne] will be finished this week," a Genk spokesman told Sky Sports.

"The assumption is that Kevin de Bruyne will be transferred to Chelsea and then will finish the season [on loan] at Genk."

Though Chelsea would look to be the only contenders for de Bruyne, the side are fighting with Inter Milan for a third signing, in the form of Chilean youngster Igor Lichnovsky, as the west London club look to build a defensive line up for the future with the 17-year-old.

Lichnovsky is currently still playing in Chile, for Universidad de Chile, and his agent has confirmed that both Chelsea and Inter want to sign their star defender.

"After Chelsea's interest, Inter Milan are now seriously interested in Lichnovsky," Rodrigo Robles told La Tercera.

"I'm in continuous contact with the Italian club and they have asked me what price he would be available for.

"When Inter bid for Edu Vargas when he was at Unviersidad de Chilie [now at Napoli], they also expressed their desire to sign Igor."