The Porto coach Andre Villas Boas moved a step closer to an expected move to Premier League football club Chelsea after resigning his post with the Portuguese and Europa League champions on Wednesday.
The Portugese club say they have been notified of the intention of Villas Boas to terminate, without just cause, his contract with the club, immediately activating his release clause.
Porto added that the 33-year-old contract will be deemed terminated once the deposit for his 15 million euros ($NZ 24 million) release clause has been paid.
The coach, contracted to Porto until 2013, has been strongly linked with Chelsea who are seeking a new manager after sacking Carlo Ancelotti on the last day of the season in May.
Villas Boas, who worked as assistant and coach at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho from 2004 to 2007, joined Porto as head coach in June last year and led the club to a treble of Portuguese Premier League, Portugal Cup and Europa League.
The coach had said last month that his future was tied with Porto.
