Di Matteo close to landing Chelsea job as Guardiola pursuit seems to have failed

Chelsea have told Roberto Di Matteo they would like him to remain as manager, with sources at Stamford Bridge increasingly confident the Italian will still be in charge at the start of the new season.

Roman Abramovich is now understood to view Di Matteo as a serious replacement for Andre Villas-Boas after trying, and seemingly failing, to persuade Pep Guardiola to cut short his sabbatical after leaving Barcelona to move to Stamford Bridge.

Relaxing: The Champions League winning boss has been taking it easy during the summer

Nothing has been agreed yet, and last night it remained unclear as to how long a contract is being discussed for the man who guided the club to a stunning Champions League and FA Cup double last month.

Di Matteo may also still have issues.

It will concern him that he could be keeping the managerial seat warm while the club wait for Guardiola. He also has options in Italy.



Nearly: Roberto Di Matteo is edging closer to the Chelsea job

The Chelsea players would welcome Di Matteo continuing. They told Abramovich as much in Munich after lifting the European Cup.

Speaking last month, Brighton boss Gus Poyet urged Abramovich to hand over the permanent reins to his good Di Matteo.



'It would be common sense that he will stay,' said the former Chelsea favourite, who played alongside Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge.



'I call him 'one of us', one of our generation - with so many managers.



Waiting game: Abramovich is keen on Guardiola (R), who is on a sabbatical



'Mark Hughes, Gianluca Vialli, Ruud Gullit, Robbie Di Matteo, Dennis Wise,



Dan Petrescu, myself, Didier Deschamps - there are so many - 'Chappy' (Albert) Ferrer.



'Why not one of us? Why should it be somebody else all the time?



'I'm not saying that we didn't have good managers at Chelsea. I mean, (Jose) Mourinho was different class.

