Fabio Capello has claimed that Chelsea are looking to appoint Marco van Basten as their manager.
Chelsea moved installed Avram Grant as their new manager following Jose Mourinho’s shock departure last week.
However, speculation is rife that Grant’s appointment is merely a stop-gap measure designed to buy the club time while they pursue a long-term successor to Mourinho.
Holland coach Van Basten was at Old Trafford on Sunday to watch Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, and was seen sitting close to Roman Abramovich.
Former Real Madrid boss Capello has now revealed that van Basten’s name was recommended to Abramovich by Chelsea technical director Frank Arnesen.
“Arnesen wants van Basten to take over and has already recommended him to Abramovich,” Capello is quoted as saying in The Sun.
“Frank and Marco know each other well from their time in Dutch football.”
However, van Basten is unlikely to walk out on the Dutch national team while they remain on course to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2008 finals.
