Watford are confident Javi Gracia will be their head coach next season despite interest from Chelsea.

Gracia has emerged as a surprise contender for the job, with Maurizio Sarri close to joining Juventus.

However, Derby manager and former Chelsea player Frank Lampard is the front runner .

Gracia has just finished an impressive season, guiding Watford to their first FA Cup Final since 1984 and to 11th in the Premier League.

The Spaniard also achieved a record Premier League points total for the club and his ability to work within a transfer structure that includes a technical director has impressed Chelsea.

But there is a belief Gracia will be at Vicarage Road next season, given the loyalty he has shown to Watford.

He signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract in November, while that deal also contained the option for a further three years. The 49-year-old has shown loyalty throughout his career, especially during his time in charge of Almeria. In 2013, he guided the Spanish club to La Liga, but he left in the summer as the board wanted to overhaul the squad.

Which Chelsea players should leave with or without Sarri 24 show all Which Chelsea players should leave with or without Sarri 1/24 Standard Sport’s Simon Johnson runs the rule over who should stay, and who you go from Chelsea’s squad… whether Maurizio Sarri stays or goes... 2/24 Kepa Arrizabalaga Kepa was always going to find it difficult to live up to a £71.6m transfer fee. However, the 24-year-old has plenty of time on his side to improve in the role.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 3/24 Willy Caballero Chelsea will have to decide whether to give the 37-year-old a new deal, but he would be a safe back-up to Kepa for another 12 months.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 4/24 Cesar Azpilicueta Has not had the best campaign at right back but as captain of the side, is clearly a key member of the dressing room.



Azpilicueta can play in a variety of positions and the club made their intentions clear by giving him a new contract until 2022.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 5/24 Davide Zappacosta The Italy international has started just 12 League games since joining from Torino for an initial £23m in August 2017 and hasn’t come close to looking value for money.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 6/24 Antonio Rudiger Is very popular with the fans because he is aggressive in the tackle and shows passion for the cause. The Blues will be looking to make the German international a mainstay of their backline.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 7/24 David Luiz Luiz’s form is unpredictable, however, he is one of the few leaders in the current group and Chelsea need him to stick around - hence his recent contract extension.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 8/24 Gary Cahill The most successful player in the ranks has become persona non grata under Sarri and at 33, Chelsea have already decided to let him leave on a free transfer in the summer.



VERDICT: Get rid REUTERS 9/24 Andreas Christensen Chelsea would be making a big mistake if they let the Denmark international defender go. He has a wealth of experience already at 22 and crucially counts towards their home grown quota.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 10/24 Ethan Ampadu Has bizarrely played as much for Wales as the Blues this term, but few doubt that he has the quality or temperament to succeed if given the chance.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 11/24 Marcos Alonso It could be argued that Alonso has been the biggest disappointment under Sarri as his form has nosedived since signing a new contract in October.



The left back has been linked with Real Madrid and if a big bid comes in, the hierarchy must consider it.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 12/24 Emerson Should have played a lot more given Alonso’s struggles. While not perfect defensively, deserves to remain part of the squad.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images/Glynn Kirk 13/24 N'Golo Kante Chelsea’s highest paid player is surely not going anywhere. If the club are to compete against the elite in future, they can’t afford to lose players like Kante, who is regarded as the best defensive midfielder in the game.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 14/24 Jorginho The creative midfielder has become the scapegoat for Chelsea’s struggles, but his talent just needs to be utilised in a better way. Perhaps Jorginho needs a season to adapt to the pace of the English game.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 15/24 Mateo Kovacic Has failed to impress since joining on a season-long loan from Real Madrid and done little to justify turning move into a permanent transfer.



VERDICT: Get rid AP 16/24 Ross Barkley Remains inconsistent, but has shown flashes of what he can do. Can be a useful squad member.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 17/24 Danny Drinkwater Is eating up over £100,000-a-week of the wage bill without playing. Best for all concerned to part ways.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 18/24 Ruben Loftus-Cheek Clearly a talent but a combination of minor injury problems and selection policy has restricted the amount of appearances. Chelsea would be foolish to let him go.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 19/24 Pedro Has been a useful acquisition since joining from Barcelona in 2015, but his powers appear to be on the wane.



VERDICT: Get rid Salvio Calabrese/UK Sports Pics 20/24 Callum Hudson-Odoi Will take a lot of convincing due to Bayern Munich’s interest, yet Chelsea must ensure the 18-year-old winger stays and features regularly in matches from now on.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 21/24 Willian The time has come to part ways even though the Brazil international has been a loyal servant for six years.



Christian Pulisic is joining in the summer and Chelsea need to make room for another young wideman to re-energise the attack.



VERDICT: Get rid AFP/Getty Images 22/24 Eden Hazard The logic of letting Pedro and Willian go depends on Chelsea’s ability to keep Hudson-Odoi and most importantly, Hazard.



Undoubtedly their best player by some margin and the one opponents fear the most. However, it could be out of their hands if Real Madrid make a big bid.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 23/24 Olivier Giroud A very likeable character who has done a fine job following a move from Arsenal in January last year. But Chelsea require a faster forward to bring a different threat to the forward line.



VERDICT: Get rid AFP/Getty Images 24/24 Gonzalo Higuain It is early days in his Chelsea career, but the Argentina international has displayed enough quality to extend his loan by another 12 months.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 1/24 Standard Sport’s Simon Johnson runs the rule over who should stay, and who you go from Chelsea’s squad… whether Maurizio Sarri stays or goes... 2/24 Kepa Arrizabalaga Kepa was always going to find it difficult to live up to a £71.6m transfer fee. However, the 24-year-old has plenty of time on his side to improve in the role.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 3/24 Willy Caballero Chelsea will have to decide whether to give the 37-year-old a new deal, but he would be a safe back-up to Kepa for another 12 months.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 4/24 Cesar Azpilicueta Has not had the best campaign at right back but as captain of the side, is clearly a key member of the dressing room.



Azpilicueta can play in a variety of positions and the club made their intentions clear by giving him a new contract until 2022.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 5/24 Davide Zappacosta The Italy international has started just 12 League games since joining from Torino for an initial £23m in August 2017 and hasn’t come close to looking value for money.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 6/24 Antonio Rudiger Is very popular with the fans because he is aggressive in the tackle and shows passion for the cause. The Blues will be looking to make the German international a mainstay of their backline.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 7/24 David Luiz Luiz’s form is unpredictable, however, he is one of the few leaders in the current group and Chelsea need him to stick around - hence his recent contract extension.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 8/24 Gary Cahill The most successful player in the ranks has become persona non grata under Sarri and at 33, Chelsea have already decided to let him leave on a free transfer in the summer.



VERDICT: Get rid REUTERS 9/24 Andreas Christensen Chelsea would be making a big mistake if they let the Denmark international defender go. He has a wealth of experience already at 22 and crucially counts towards their home grown quota.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 10/24 Ethan Ampadu Has bizarrely played as much for Wales as the Blues this term, but few doubt that he has the quality or temperament to succeed if given the chance.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 11/24 Marcos Alonso It could be argued that Alonso has been the biggest disappointment under Sarri as his form has nosedived since signing a new contract in October.



The left back has been linked with Real Madrid and if a big bid comes in, the hierarchy must consider it.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 12/24 Emerson Should have played a lot more given Alonso’s struggles. While not perfect defensively, deserves to remain part of the squad.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images/Glynn Kirk 13/24 N'Golo Kante Chelsea’s highest paid player is surely not going anywhere. If the club are to compete against the elite in future, they can’t afford to lose players like Kante, who is regarded as the best defensive midfielder in the game.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 14/24 Jorginho The creative midfielder has become the scapegoat for Chelsea’s struggles, but his talent just needs to be utilised in a better way. Perhaps Jorginho needs a season to adapt to the pace of the English game.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 15/24 Mateo Kovacic Has failed to impress since joining on a season-long loan from Real Madrid and done little to justify turning move into a permanent transfer.



VERDICT: Get rid AP 16/24 Ross Barkley Remains inconsistent, but has shown flashes of what he can do. Can be a useful squad member.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 17/24 Danny Drinkwater Is eating up over £100,000-a-week of the wage bill without playing. Best for all concerned to part ways.



VERDICT: Get rid Getty Images 18/24 Ruben Loftus-Cheek Clearly a talent but a combination of minor injury problems and selection policy has restricted the amount of appearances. Chelsea would be foolish to let him go.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 19/24 Pedro Has been a useful acquisition since joining from Barcelona in 2015, but his powers appear to be on the wane.



VERDICT: Get rid Salvio Calabrese/UK Sports Pics 20/24 Callum Hudson-Odoi Will take a lot of convincing due to Bayern Munich’s interest, yet Chelsea must ensure the 18-year-old winger stays and features regularly in matches from now on.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 21/24 Willian The time has come to part ways even though the Brazil international has been a loyal servant for six years.



Christian Pulisic is joining in the summer and Chelsea need to make room for another young wideman to re-energise the attack.



VERDICT: Get rid AFP/Getty Images 22/24 Eden Hazard The logic of letting Pedro and Willian go depends on Chelsea’s ability to keep Hudson-Odoi and most importantly, Hazard.



Undoubtedly their best player by some margin and the one opponents fear the most. However, it could be out of their hands if Real Madrid make a big bid.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 23/24 Olivier Giroud A very likeable character who has done a fine job following a move from Arsenal in January last year. But Chelsea require a faster forward to bring a different threat to the forward line.



VERDICT: Get rid AFP/Getty Images 24/24 Gonzalo Higuain It is early days in his Chelsea career, but the Argentina international has displayed enough quality to extend his loan by another 12 months.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters

Gracia saw that as a betrayal of the players that had secured promotion and consequently he walked away.

He is an outsider for the Stamford Bridge job and even if Chelsea were to firm up their interest, he could prove hard to prise away.