Chelsea will consider sending an SOS to England assistant manager Steve Holland if they sack manager coach Maurizio Sarri next week.

Despite progression into the last 16 of the Europa League, Sarri is on the brink of being sacked ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City and Wednesday night’s Premier League visit of Tottenham Hotspur.

Holland, the former Chelsea assistant, is seen as the top choice to help his old club through the rest of the season if he and the Football Association can be convinced to combine his England duties with a return to Stamford Bridge.

Holland was at Chelsea’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United and the Europa League victory over Malmo, as well as attending the Uefa Youth League victory against Monaco at Cobham this week.

That has sparked rumours around Chelsea that Holland is interested in a temporary return, although the club insist they have not held talks with any potential successors to Sarri.

Holland has worked with most of the current squad, having been at Chelsea in different roles for eight years before becoming Gareth Southgate’s assistant at England on a full-time basis two years ago.