Chelsea have identified Carlo Ancelotti as their first choice to succeed Antonio Conte if the Italian doesn’t fulfil the remaining 20 months on his contract.
That’s according to the Sun, who report that the three-time Champions League winner still enjoys good relations with the board despite being fired in 2011 for coming second.
Conte is under serious pressure having lost three games already this season, including shock slip-ups against Burnley and rock-bottom Crystal Palace.
Ancelotti is available after being sacked by Bayern Munich amid a poor start to their own title defence. He has already won one Premier League title at Stamford Bridge, although it will be difficult for him to rescue another if he takes over this season.
The Blues are already nine points behind league-leaders City, with Manchester United and Tottenham also ahead of them.
The Italian is also thought to have attracted interest from Everton and unnamed clubs in the Chinese Super League, but he is likely to ignore their advances if he thinks Chelsea will come calling again.
