The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed that Chelsea are interested in manager Luis Felipe Scolari.
Chelsea are looking for a new manager after sacking Avram Grant last Saturday and a number of leading coaches from across Europe are believed to be on the Stamford Bridge short-list.
Inter chief Roberto Mancini, former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard, and Russia coach Guus Hiddink are all understood to under consideration.
And, according to the Portuguese Football Federation’s vice-president Amandio De Carvalho, Portugal manager Scolari is also a candidate.
“I already know that Chelsea are interested in Scolari,” Carvalho said in The Independent .
Meanwhile, former Juventus and Italy boss Marcello Lippi has ruled himself out of the running as Grant’s successor.
“No, no, no,” Lippi told The Sun when asked if he would be interested in taking over at Chelsea.
“Sharing the language of the players is very important. I don’t speak English.
“I must transmit my ideas and philosophy to the team and could not do that.”
Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti is also reportedly a contender following reports that the Italian met with Abramovich on Monday.
And Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has jokingly suggested a deal for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba could persuade him to part with Ancelotti.
“They can have him (Ancelotti) for €50million or else I’ll exchange him for Didier Drogba,” Galliani said.
