MANCINI ... £6million dealROMAN ABRAMOVICH has made Roberto Mancini his No 1 target to be the next Chelsea manager. The Blues’ owner does not want to be left high and dry if Jose Mourinho leaves in the summer. He believes Inter Milan’s chief would be the perfect replacement — and will offer him around £6million a year to take over.
A source told SunSport: “Abramovich has made up his mind that he wants Mancini. Chelsea know that he is now in demand.” Mancini won the Serie A title last season — Inter’s first for 18 years — even though it was by default as Juventus were relegated after the match-fixing scandal. He is out of contract in June and has indicated he is ready to switch to the Premiership.
The former Sampdoria, Lazio and Italy striker, who also had a short spell at Leicester, was expected to sign a new San Siro deal last week. But he stalled at the 11th hour. While Inter president Massimo Moratti has claimed the deal is agreed, it seems Mancini refused to commit.
With Inter currently leading Serie A by 11 points, and with a record 13 top-flight wins on the trot under their belt, the club dare not rock the boat. And Mancini is determined to weigh up his options before signing for anyone.
Red Rom has cooled on other possible coaches, such as Guus Hiddink, Marcello Lippi and Carlo Ancelotti, because of their age. Juve chief Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of the running. The ex-Chelsea midfielder has bad memories of his time in London and will sign a new deal in Turin next month.
SevilleÂ’s Juande Ramos was also considered. But he cannot speak English and Abramovich has been advised he would be a risky appointment. Mancini is a close friend of Sven Goran Eriksson and has met all of the major power- brokers at Chelsea in the past two years.
Having worked for Moratti, he is also familiar with the club president having an interest and influence in signings. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is looking for a new job and Real Madrid remain favourites — though a vacancy at Inter could suit!
No attempt has been made either to extend the contracts of MourinhoÂ’s staff beyond their summer expiry date. Assistant boss Steve Clarke, assistant Baltemar Brito, goalkeeping coach Silvino Lauro, fitness coach Rui Faria and head of observation and scouting Andre Villas Boas are all still waiting for new terms.