Massimiliano Allegri could be back on Chelsea’s wish list after admitting he is keen to start work at a new club next season following his departure from Juventus.

Allegri has been a target for Chelsea on more than one occasion in recent years but has opted to stay at the Serie A side.

The 51-year-old is going to be available now after Juventus confirmed on Friday that he will not see out the final 12 months of his contract.

Juventus have already begun their search for his successor and the current favourite is Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri, although Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi and Bologna’s Sinisa Mihajlovic are also in the frame. Former Chelsea and Juventus chief Antonio Conte has been lined up by Inter Milan.

Sarri’s future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain despite leading the side back into the Champions League via a top-four finish and the finals of the EFL Cup and Europa League.

Sarri isn’t popular with a large section of Chelsea’s fanbase while it is understood that senior players will be keen to leave if he remains in charge next term.

It means that there is a possibility that Chelsea and Juventus will be looking for new managers in the summer and a potential swap is available.

Allegri, who has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, has won the Serie A title five years in a row.

But he is not looking to take a break, saying: “I am not particularly looking for a year off. I’ll only take a sabbatical if I have to, but otherwise the idea is to find a project that convinces me. Life is full of surprises and you have to be ready for anything.

“I train with joy and fun, because if I am not convinced by the squad at my disposal, I try changing things around, moving players into new positions and finding something different, otherwise I get bored.”

Allegri has been learning English for some time and admitted in the past that he wants to manage in the Premier League. He confirmed last year that his next job would be abroad.

Sarri signed a two-year deal with an option to extend it by another 12 months after taking over at Stamford Bridge last July. He is currently preparing the squad for the Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29.

Another candidate being strongly liked with the Chelsea post is their former midfielder Frank Lampard, who has led Derby to the Championship play-off final in his first season as a coach.

Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time leading goal-scorer on 211 goals and employs another former Chelsea player as well as academy coach, Jody Morris, as his assistant.

It has been suggested that Chelsea would not consider Lampard yet due to a lack of experience, however it is believed that isn’t the case.