According to reports, Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich is understood to be eyeing Jorge Sampaoli for the top job at Stamford Bridge.
The Russian owner only appointed Guus Hiddink as the Portuguese manager’s successor last week—with Mourinho sacked in the aftermath of the defeat against Leicester City—but is already targeting the long-term replacement for the Dutch manager.
According to The Sun, the oligarch is ‘sounding out’ the Chile coach as the man to revolutionize the Stamford Bridge side and help them overcome the mess and the misery left by Mourinho.
The 55-year-old guided La Roja to the title at the Copa America earlier this year, and the tabloid report that Real Madrid have also kept tabs on the manager, potentially as a successor to ex-Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez.
Sampaoli has cultivated a reputation as something of a tactical mastermind, having got the best out of a Chilean squad employing somewhat unorthodox formations, intense pressing and fluid attacking play.
Chile impressed at the 2014 World Cup—falling short in the second round—and Sampaoli could be a viable, and intriguing, long-term replacement for Mourinho and 69-year-old Hiddink.
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