Romeu is currently on national team duty with Spain at the Under 20 World Cup in Colombia, which runs from July 29-August 20, and would need to pass a medical and agree personal terms with the London club.
Villas-Boas said the 19-year-old would be ideal in bolstering the midfield with Ghanian Michael Essien ruled out for as long as six months to recover from knee surgery after he sustained a cruciate ligament injury.
"It's a sector in which we're struggling with numbers, not only after Michael's injury," Villas-Boas told a news conference in Bangkok during Chelsea's pre-season Asian tour.
"Oriol is a player with a bright future, he still has to evolve and prove himself as a player. He's one of the most interesting bright young players... hopefully we can agree terms and he can pass a medical.
"Again, we are far from reaching personal terms with the player," he added.
Romeu started his career as a youth player with Espanyol before joining Barcelona's academy in 2004 and played 49 games for the club's reserve side before making his first team debut in La Liga in May.
"It is also a question of time and of deciding where we think it is better for him to evolve as a player, in Spain or in another country," he said.
"The Spanish League is extremely competitive and Atletico is a great club to be at, but it is not decided yet."
