Porto have reacquired a percentage of midfielder Joao Moutinho's economic rights as speculation continues that he will join Chelsea this month.
The Portuguese champions have spent £3.5million to buy back 22.5 per cent of the midfielder's rights, they confirmed late on Wednesday.
The Portuguese champions had sold 37.5 per cent of Moutinho's rights to an investment fund for around the same amount last October, meaning they now own 85 per cent of the midfielder.
The development will only increase speculation that Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is preparing to raid his former club for the 24-year-old, who has a £35m release clause, and reports in Portugal this week have suggested Porto are expecting the west London club to make a former offer.
Porto president Pinto Da Costa recently warned 'AVB' that the club would not allow Moutinho or any of his players to leave the club for even "one euro" less than their valuation or release clause value.
Moutinho is believed to be on Chelsea’s list of targets as they struggle to convince Tottenham to sell playmaker Luka Modric and a bid is thought still be a possibility following the recent injury to Michael Essien, despite Villas-Boas last week hinting that his interest had cooled.
He told Antena 1: "Joao Moutinho is, without doubt, a super footballer, but we are very competitive in that area.
"The injury to Essien has changed my plans, but with Oriol Romeu [who has been signed from Barcelona] we have a player who can increase our level.
"At this moment, I don’t need to think about more reinforcements.
"That will only happen now if we suffer any more setbacks which, of course, I don’t desire."