France coach Laurent Blanc is being considered by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as the club’s permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas.
While Roberto Di Matteo has been undertaking his own extended job interview as the Blues’ interim boss, Abramovich’s aides have been trying to draw up a shortlist of candidates for the managerial position, which was vacated by the sacking of Villas-Boas in March.
Delivering Champions League glory to the Blues for the first time could give Di Matteo the opportunity to hold on to the post, but former Manchester United and Inter Milan defender Blanc is among those in the frame to be given the job on a long-term basis this summer.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and former Chelsea darling Jose Mourinho are understandably top of Abramovich’s wanted list, but the Russian billionaire only has an outside chance of attracting either.
A secondary list of candidates has Blanc, whose contract with France expires after Euro 2012, at its summit; Marseille manager Didier Deschamps and Zenit St Petersburg chief Luciano Spalletti are also being considered.