Reports in the English media on Saturday morning suggest that Chelsea will have the successor to Avram Grant as manager lined-up by Monday - though any announcement could be delayed by legal wrangles in Italy.
According to The Times, the Chelsea hierarchy have warned those players whose contract situations remain unresolved - for example, Frank Lampard - to wait until the start of next week before proceeding with negotiations, implying that by then the Blues’ managerial position will be clearer.
Roberto Mancini seems to have emerged as the favourite to succeed Avram Grant, although the Italian’s appointment could be held up by the ongoing legal dispute over compensation between him and Inter Milan, who sacked him last week.
Mancini made it clear on Friday that he will be seeking compensation from the Nerazzurri after they implied that ‘recent events in the news’ had contributed to his dismissal.
These ‘events’ are thought to include the leaking of a tapped phone conversation Mancini had with a man who turned out to be involved in drug deals.
There is no suggestion that Mancini himself was involved in anything illegal, but The Times claims: “Sources close to his camp suggest that the timing of the leaks - a few days before the final Serie A match of the season two weeks ago - is suspicious.”
Mancini said on Friday: “The club’s decision [to sack me] is based on events which have gravely hurt my reputation and my honour.
“I have given my lawyer the job of protecting my image, [while] condemning the behaviour of the club in that it tried to exploit false, illicit stories.”
Mancini’s lawyer, Stefano Gagliardi, added: “We abide by the national contract for coaches, which says that a club has 10 days from an alleged breach to take action, while any event referred to in the statement happened months ago.
“Mancini is angry and disappointed because he feels injured as a person and troubled; he and his family feel affected by this affair.”
Inter are hoping to appoint ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as Mancini’s successor, the Portuguese having apparently agreed a lucrative three-year contract at the San Siro.
But both appointments could be delayed by the legal dispute, while another candidate for the Chelsea job, Luis Felipe Scolari, insists he has had no contact - yet - with the Premier League club.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com
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