And Chelsea’s new manager is…

Rafa Benitez fancies the Chelsea job. And it might have to do with the comment another ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant made: It’s the easiest job now, because no one can do worse than AVB.

The former Liverpool boss is still one of the favourites to replace sacked Andre Villas-Boas and the Spaniard was quoted in the British press (https://bit.ly/zMYl4r) as saying: "As a manager with Champions League experience and experience in Spain and Italy, I am open to offers.

"How many managers have won trophies in three different countries, the Spanish title or the FIFA Club World Cup? I am a manager now waiting for a job, I can't stop speculation. I can't stop people talking.

Rafa might want to take on board what former Chelsea chief Luiz Felipe Scolari says though.

He has predicted the club's next manager will go through 'hell'.

The Brazilian, who was fired by owner Roman Abramovich in February 2009, also believes Andre Villas-Boas' successor will have to bring in eight new players to make the club successful again.

Meanwhile, Chelsea were linked with Germany manager Joachim Loew, 52, but denied formal talks had taken place in Switzerland with the man who plotted England's 4-1 humiliation in the World Cup (https://bit.ly/xrfAI6).

Scolari said: 'It will be hell for whoever succeeds him. The move to sack Villas-Boas is strange, but not so strange to me because of what I went through there. Some things are known, like the relations with the owner and his relationship with some of the players.”

Chelsea have made their initial approach to tempt Pep Guardiola to Stamford Bridge as the Barcelona boss was warned he would be walking into a living "hell".

The Mirror revealed on Sunday that Nou Camp chief Guardiola is Roman Abramovich's prime target to replace sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

Tentative feelers have already been put out by intermediaries seeking to put a deal together which could see Guardiola quit the world and European champions to be Abramovich's eighth manager since 2004.

Sven Goran Eriksson and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez have also put themselves in the frame.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.