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That’s according to ESPN pundit Steve Nicol, who feels Espirito Santo is capable of bringing the expansive style of football Roman Abramovich has craved to Stamford Bridge.

It looks increasingly likely that Abramovich will be required to make his 12th managerial appointment since buying the Blues in 2003, with Maurizio Sarri on the verge of leaving to join Juventus.

Sarri enjoyed a decent debut season in west London, finishing third in the Premier League and winning the Europa League, but Chelsea fans have been highly critical of the Italian for making a number of controversial tactical tweaks and suffering some heavy defeats.

Yet with the majority of reports linking departing Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri and Derby manager Frank Lampard with the Blues post, Nicol has put Espirito Santo’s name forward as a surprise contender.

When asked who Chelsea should appoint next, he told ESPN FC: “Nuno Espirito Santo.

“I tell you what, the way they play the game, it feels like Chelsea for forever and a day have been talking about how they want to play this expansive game.

“Goes through [Jose] Mourinho and [Antonio] Conte, and then we thought we was gonna get that with Sarri and didn’t.

“Look how Wolves play. Look how this guy manages.”

Nicol’s managerial claim comes as:

(Image: GETTY/ESPN)

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

He added: “Juventus never played an open, expansive game [under Allegri] did they?

“If Chelsea want that, they’ve got a guy that’s proven in the Premier League. There’s your man.”

Espirito Santo has taken Wolves to new heights since replacing Paul Lambert at Molineux in May 2017; guiding them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship in his first year in charge, before finishing seventh in the top flight last term.

They also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they suffered an agonising defeat to Watford at Wembley.

(Image: GETTY)

But despite Espirito Santo’s impressive work at Wolves, Nicol’s fellow pundit Shaka Hislop thinks Allegri - who won the Serie A title in each of his five seasons with Juve - should be top of Chelsea’s wish-list.

“If it’s a choice out of that list, Allegri is top of that,” he said.

“Especially given the fact that he’s available, you get him quite easily.

“Given what he’s won at Juventus, given how close he’s come in the Champions League, that’s who I’d go for.”