Despite securing third in the Premier League and a place in the Europa League final, Maurizio Sarri's future as Chelsea manager is in doubt.

As far as the 60-year-old is concerned he's achieved his targets, but Chelsea have been far from convincing this season.

Heavy defeats to Bournemouth (4-0) and Manchester City (6-0) at the start of the year saw the pressure mount, as did the FA Cup exit at home to Manchester United.

In the end Sarri managed to turn things around, though it could be argued that was more down to Arsenal and United's form being even worse than Chelsea's.

Sarri was asked earlier this week whether he will be at Stamford Bridge next season and he summed up the situation by saying he doesn't know.

"I think so, but I am not sure," the Italian replied. "I can say only that the club asked me for the Champions League, and we reached the target.

"As you know very well, I love English football. I love the Premier League; it's fantastic and the level is the best in the world, I think.

"The atmosphere in the stadiums is wonderful. I would like very much to stay here."

Diego Simeone, Gianfranco Zola and Maxi Allegri have all been linked with replacing Sarri and now Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement have suggested a female coach could take the reins.

More specifically, Chelsea Women coach Emma Hayes.

Hayes, 42, also guided the Blues to third in the Women's Super League and to the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League this season.

She's become very popular at the club and it's testament to the job she's done that she's being discussed as a potential replacement for Sarri.

Whether it would actually happen remains to be seen, but Hayes has previously expressed interested in making the switch to men's football.

"Whether it's me or someone else, it's going to happen one day," she said in January. "If it was the right club it would be potentially easier.

"But to go into that level of scrutiny and do it at the level I would like to do it at, I would like to be prepared for it."

"If you are going to jump into the men's game you have to learn about scouting and recruitment, although it won't be that hard.

"A female needs to get an interview first. For a club board to think about that there needs to be some progressive thinking. For me it's about opening the door."

News Now - Sport News