Being reported on the news as well as online articles.

Roman Abramovich is reportedly ready to offer the Chelsea manager's job to Carlo Ancelotti, despite his players' clamour for the return of Jose Mourinho.

The Daily Mail claims Abramovich has been forced to accept Guus Hiddink's decision to quit Stamford Bridge this summer and has identified Ancelotti as the ideal replacement.

However, senior Chelsea players are understood to have told Abramovich that they favour the return of Mourinho, who famously won back-to-back titles at Stamford Bridge before falling out with the club's Russian owner.

Mourinho is not expected to stay at Inter Milan beyond the end of the season, despite the likelihood of his side winning the scudetto. His first season in Italy has been marred by clashes with the press and fellow managers. But more significantly, he was unable to improve on Inter's disappointing Champions League record, with a defeat against Manchester United ending their hopes for another year.

Mourinho has made little secret of his desire to return to the Premier League, and has even been touted as a potential replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when the Scot retires.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, is out of contract at AC Milan at the end of this season. Although he has a close and trusting relationship with owner Silvio Berlusconi and director Adriano Galliani, the Rossoneri have fallen behind their city rivals and have an ageing squad seemingly in need of rejuvenation.

A new coach could be required for that task, although Ancelotti last week claimed he was confident he would stay at the San Siro beyond this summer.

Source - The Telegraph

I would love JM to come back (but it aint gonna happen) - failing that I would settle for Ancelotti especially if he bought Kaka with him!

uninspired by this, I must say, although I couldn't really give you a great argument why.

Please - NO!!!!!

I'd take Rijkaard over him - especially if Gus has a potential to stay as Director of Football..

More on the players wanting Jose back.

Jose Mourinho would reportedly be the overwhelming choice of the Chelsea dressing room to return to Stamford Bridge next season.

Mourinho was sacked 19 months ago after falling out with owner Roman Abramovich.

The Chelsea supremo was unhappy that his club had not won the Champions League in Mourinho's three years in charge and felt his authority was constantly being undermined by his charismatic coach.

However, the decision has not been a success given Mourinho's replacement, Avram Grant, was sacked at the end of last season, which ended trophyless for the London outfit.

Former World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari then lasted only until February after arriving at Stamford Bridge in a blaze of publicity during the summer.

Guus Hiddink has been brought in to steady the ship until the end of the season but there are doubts whether the Dutchman will remain beyond the end of May given he is under contract to the Russian national team.

The Chelsea players do at least feel under Hiddink the club is moving in the right direction once more.

However, it's understood the dressing room would plump for Mourinho if the choice was offered.

That scenario seems most improbable given the unwillingness of either Mourinho or Abramovich to back down from their respective positions.

Indeed, it is now felt if Mourinho does come back to England, it would almost certainly be to Manchester United, where close friends feel he would be a perfect fit.

The former FC Porto coach has spoken warmly about his affection for Sir Alex Ferguson and admitted the opportunity to replace the Scot is one he could not turn down if it was offered.

Yet, as it is widely assumed Mourinho will leave Inter Milan in the summer even though he has taken them clear in Serie A, a vacancy at Stamford Bridge is likely to crop up before the one at Old Trafford.

Hiddink has consistently stuck to his mantra that he will return to Russia at the season's end - something Chelsea, as yet, have been unwilling to challenge.

Abramovich must certainly tread a delicate path as he has a financial investment in both club and country and knows the Russian federation would not be impressed by the loss of Hiddink midway through a World Cup qualifying campaign.

Letting the Dutchman continue to the end of qualifying on a part-time basis would appear to be a non-starter, partly because of the uncertainty if Russia were to reach South Africa 2010, leaving Abramovich to carry out some delicate negotiations if Hiddink proves to be his chosen coach.

Hiddink's impressive record as coach with PSV Eindhoven, South Korea and Australia suggests he is more adaptable than Scolari was and his ability to speak English is clearly a major asset, even in Chelsea's cosmopolitan dressing room.

It is also apparent Hiddink likes to do things his way, to the extent that he has introduced short 12-minute team talks in order to help increase concentration levels.

The continuity of keeping Hiddink would obviously be a factor, although as that ultimate scenario is by no means certain, AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti remains the favourite.

However, that situation would almost certainly change if Chelsea were to end Abramovich's long wait for European glory in Rome next month.

Source

uninspired by this, I must say, although I couldn't really give you a great argument why.

Pretty much agree with those sentiments. Though rather than us make the argument, I it's up to Roman, Kenyon and Buck to make the arguments as to why Ancelotti is the bloke for the job.

Pretty much agree with those sentiments. Though rather than us make the argument, I it's up to Roman, Kenyon and Buck to make the arguments as to why Ancelotti is the bloke for the job.

Agree with Tim and Just. Althought I wasn't convinced for their arguements for getting rid of Jose, so I doubt their arguement for CA would be that convincing.

Ancelotti = Scolari mkII

I know there are many reservations about milan- the age of their squad and so on, but I'd stress that a lot of that isn't down to him.

he's a clever coach and an ancelotti side at their best plays wonderful football. wouldn't be my first or even second choice, but I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him here.

Agree with Tim and Just. Althought I wasn't convinced for their arguements for getting rid of Jose, so I doubt their arguement for CA would be that convincing.

I agree with most, dont like the idea of Ancelotti, my argument against

- AC Milan must, of all the top flight European sides have the oldest squad

- His lack of English

I don't think the proposal is that Ancelotti brings the squad with him as well

Ancellotti would not be bringing Kaka, that's for sure. It's not as if Kaka belonged to him.

I don't know, I am not inspired by this potential "signing" either. There are other managers out there who I'd prefer.

Cheers,

Butch

I don't think the proposal is that Ancelotti brings the squad with him as well

<_<