Hughes & Mancini on Chelsea list

Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini and Luis Felipe Scolari are among those on Chelsea's shortlist for the managerial job, BBC Sport understands.

But Guus Hiddink, Frank Rijkaard and Sven Goran-Eriksson are not major contenders to replace Avram Grant.

Former Juventus coach Didier Deschamps has also said he is on the list.

Mancini could be available for the post, after his agent claimed his client was no longer the coach of Italian champions Inter Milan.

The 43-year-old's agent, Giorgio De Giorgis, said on Tuesday night that Mancini - who guided Inter Milan to a third successive Serie A title - had left the club following a 25-minute meeting with president Massimo Moratti.

De Giorgis also claimed former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been lined up as Mancini's replacement.


MIHIR BOSE BLOG
One club insider told me: 'The next manager will decide how the club is judged by supporters and perceived by the football world... we need to get this appointment right'

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose
According to BBC sports editor Mihir Bose, Chelsea's decision to look more closely at Hughes, Mancini and Scolari "follows a reappraisal by the powers-that-be at Stamford Bridge as to what they feel the new manager needs to do for the club."

He added: "The view is Chelsea need to use the appointment to make the club feel popular, if not loved, not merely by their fans but by the public."

Blackburn manager Hughes has impressed during his three-and-a-half year spell at Ewood Park, guiding Rovers to seventh in the Premier League last season.

Earlier this year, the former Chelsea striker was one of the front-runners to succeed Sam Allardyce as Newcastle manager before Kevin Keegan took the job.

Portugal manager Scolari is also reportedly wanted by Manchester City to replace Eriksson.

Former France captain Deschamps, 39, was a member of Chelsea's FA Cup-winning side of 2000.

Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps claims he is in the frame to take over at Chelsea

As a coach, he led Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and then took Juventus back into Italy's Serie A.

Deschamps, who has been waiting to return to football having taken a break from the game a year ago, told Monaco-based radio station RMC: "Three or four managers are on the list and I am one of them. It would be hard to refuse Chelsea."

Rijkaard was thought to be one of the leading candidates as he has recently left his post as Barcelona coach, while Eriksson's position as Manchester City manager is vulnerable.

Hiddink, 61, only has a verbal agreement to remain in charge of Russian national team beyond the Euro 2008 finals but his agent Cees Van Nieuwenhuizen says he will stay on.