Jose Mourinho expects Tottenham target Willian will sign for the Chelsea ahead of their London rivals.
Tottenham appeared poised to sign the Anzhi Makhachkala forward after he completed a medical, but Chelsea now appear to be in pole position for the deal.
"I think he's already made his decision," Mourinho said.
The self-styled 'Special One' nodded in the affirmative when asked if that was Chelsea.
He added: "I don't like to speak before time because football can be crazy.
"I know what the player wants, so in this moment we cannot hide. That is a possibility."
Willian is still to undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge, but if he signs it strikes a blow for Mourinho over his former staff member Andre Villas-Boas, once of Chelsea and now Tottenham boss.
It could also hinder the prospective sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, Mourinho's former club.
Mourinho understands the need for medicals before contracts being agreed, but also spoke of the danger of a deal being gazumped.
"That's the danger of medicals before contracts," said Mourinho.
"You have to do the medical before, but the best thing to do is to do the medical in secret.
"If the player is fine, you can sign him. If the player is not fine you don't destroy his career."
Mourinho had insisted Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was his sole target, but revealed he had alternative options, too.
Willian is "an extra target", said Mourinho, who plans a third bid for Rooney following Monday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Mourinho added: "I couldn't say much in previous press conferences.
"I have to answer your questions and try to be honest, but at the same time try to hide a few things.
"I'm happy with my squad, but every one of us managers, we say we are happy, but we are always unhappy.
"We always want something of more quality and we never close the door to the possibility of adding more quality."
Mourinho anticipates departures, but only temporarily.
"If somebody's coming, somebody will leave," Mourinho said.
"The point is not to sell. I want a 22-player squad. If somebody comes, somebody leaves.
"Do we need to sell? No, we don't. Do we need to loan? Probably, yes.
"I don't like to work with big squads. I think 22 is the perfect number to answer to our needs."
Playmaker Juan Mata will not depart.
The Chelsea player of the year for the last two seasons has been linked with a move, a prospect Mourinho dismissed.
"No, (it is) speculation. He's a player we all like, he's a player we all want to keep and we want more quality in the team, we don't want less quality.
"We want to add quality. Juan is not a player we want to lose."
