CHELSEA'S PURSUIT of a new manager is increasingly focusing on the possibility of luring the Portugal head coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, to Stamford Bridge post-Euro 2008 after Milan claimed over the weekend that an approach for Carlo Ancelotti had been rebuffed.
Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, is understood to be considering the merits of three candidates and although he has yet to determine who his first-choice will be, Scolari is emerging as the most likely primary target to succeed Avram Grant.
The Brazilian is understood to have spoken with Manchester City in London last month about the possibility of taking over at Eastlands on a €4 million-a-year deal, once his contract with Portugal expires.
Scolari does not intend to finalise his future until after the Euro 2008 tournament. He is keen to manage in the Premier League and Chelsea would represent an attractive alternative to joining Thaksin Shinawatra at City.
Factions within Stamford Bridge continue to push the credentials of their own preferred candidates, with the Blackburn Rovers manager, Mark Hughes, still favoured by the chief executive, Peter Kenyon, and support for Frank Rijkaard maintained by the chief scout, Frank Arnesen.
Guus Hiddink, another candidate, has reiterated his intention to remain as Russia's manager for a further two years. "I have given my word to the Russian football president, and he to me, that we will continue until the end of the 2010 World Cup," he said.
The Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani's claim that a move had been made for Ancelotti - a two-time Champions League winner as manager of the Rossoneri - came as something of a surprise, though Chelsea insist no official move was made for the 48-year-old Italian.
Hughes, for his part, remains much in demand but Blackburn have no plans to renegotiate their manager's contract. Hughes, who is on holiday, signed a two-year deal extension with the club last summer that includes an extra 12-month rolling contract.
Rovers would, therefore, receive two years' compensation should their manager depart this summer and, while that would not deter Abramovich if Chelsea try to appoint the coveted Welshman, the deal offers Blackburn some level of protection in the event of his exit.
It is highly unlikely Blackburn would reject an approach for Hughes from Chelsea, and the former Manchester United striker has been mentioned, along with Grant, as a possible successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson at City.
Eriksson's departure, after just one season and with a €1.25 million pay-off, is believed to be imminent, with several established players likely to follow the former England manager out of the club this summer.
The captain, Richard Dunne, has several offers on the table, with Portsmouth emerging as a favoured destination for the Republic of Ireland international despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, and the midfielder Stephen Ireland is a target of Sunderland manager, Roy Keane.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in signing Dunne. "I like Dunne. He's a top player and I think there's a couple of clubs in for him at the moment. But I think we've got as good a chance as anyone now."
The futures of Micah Richards and Michael Johnson are also uncertain, although City have yet to receive a formal offer for either of their highly-rated academy graduates.
