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Chelsea face battle with Argentina for Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone if Roman Abramovich sacks Jose Mourinho

Mourinho faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge after his side suffered a seventh defeat of the season at Stoke on Saturday

Jack de Menezes

Monday 09 November 2015 10:50 GMT

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has been linked with a move to Chelsea (Getty Images)

Chelsea are considering a move for Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone if owner Roman Abramovich decides to sack Jose Mourinho this season, but the Blues face a bidding war with the Argentina national team to lure him to the Premier League.

Mourinho continues to face growing pressure at Stamford Bridge after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Stoke saw Chelsea remain 16th in the Premier League table in their worst start to a season since 1978/79. To make matters worse, Mourinho wasn’t even at the Britannia for the loss due to his one-match stadium ban, and he is currently the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to get the axe.

Simeone has already been earmarked as a possible replacement should Mourinho leave, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti also linked with a possible move. However, according to the Daily Express, Chelsea face a battle with the Argentine Football Association for Simeone’s services, as they want the former international to return to his homeland to lead the national team.

Abramovich is understood to have not considered dismissing Mourinho yet, with his four-year contract and subsequent £30m compensation fee a likely swaying factor in his decision-making. But if Chelsea continue their dismal run of form that has seen the defending champions lose seven of their 12 league games this season, then Abramovich will be forced to act.

The Blues suffered three straight league defeats for the first time since Abramovich bought the London club in 2003 after losses to West Ham, Liverpool and Stoke, and while Chelsea fans have stuck by Mourinho by persistently chanting his name from the stands, the players have not enjoyed as much support.

Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

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1/14Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Antonio Conte

The current Italy manager is Chelsea's preferred target should they dismiss Mourinho, as revealed by the Independent at the start of December. He could choose to combine his role with the Italian national team should the call come from Stamford Bridge, and he has a proven pedigree after leading Juventus back to the top of Serie A following their relegation. Could be available full-time next summer if he leaves his post with Italy after Euro 2016.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Pep Guardiola

Reports have suggested that the current Bayern Munich manager would be Chelsea's favoured choice to replace Mourinho permanently, but convincing the former Barcelona coach to leave the Allianz Arena midway through the season would appear impossible. However, employing him at the end of the campaign could be a realistic option considering the Spaniard will be out of contract in the summer. Although there are rumours he is on the verge of signing a new deal.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Carlo Ancelotti

Has already managed Chelsea, during which time he led them to the Double in the 2009/10 season. There are few coaches with such an impressive track-record, but the fact he was shamefully sacked in the tunnel at Goodison Park could make the situation complicated. Would he want to return to a club that treated his with so little respect? The Italian has indicated he would prefer a return to management next season in the Premier League. Has said on more than one occasion that he doesn't like taking jobs midway through a season, while he is reported to have already agreed in principle to take over from Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Brendan Rodgers

His availability makes Rodgers a viable option, although whether the former Liverpool manager matches the calibre of coach that Chelsea would want to employ is debatable. But the Northern Irishman can boast of nearly taking Liverpool to the title and few others in the game would be so desperate to prove themselves. Also has ties with the club having worked under Mourinho during the Special One's first spell at Chelsea.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Diego Simeone

The Atletico Madrid manager is probably the most exciting option out there. Having led Madrid's second club out of the shadow of Real to the title in 2013/14, the Argentinian proved his combative intense style could yield results. Convincing him to leave his current post could be tricky though, with Simeone agreeing a contract until 2020 earlier this year. Chelsea would have to pay around £15m to Atletico in compensation to buy him out of his contract.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Ronald Koeman

The former Netherlands international has impressed since coming to the Premier League. Having joined Southampton at a time most predicted would be tough for the club after numerous high-profile departures, Koeman led the club to a seventh placed finish thanks to some astute buys and exciting football.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Laurent Blanc

The former France manager could have done little more at PSG since taking over at the mega-rich club, winning the league for the last two-years running and making the French side a force in the Champions League. Among the notable European scalps in recent years was the defeat of Chelsea at the Round of 16 stage in last season's competition, and, providing he stays in Paris, they will meet at the same stage of this year's tournament for the third year running.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

John Terry

Captain. Leader. Legend. Manager? Few at Chelsea can claim to command as much respect as their long-term skipper. Whether he would want to step into the manager role is unclear, but as a short-term option until the end of the season, it could be the smoothest transition.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Gianfranco Zola

Zola, who made 312 appearances and scored 80 goals for Chelsea after signing from Parma in 1996, is currently manager of Al Arabi in Qatar. He has signalled his ambition is to one day return to Stamford Bridge as manager.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Fabio Capello

Former England manager Fabio Capello has been out of work since being dropped by Russia over the summer. He's said is open to taking over at Stamford Bridge, but how well the Italian would be received after his failures with the national team is unclear.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Guus Hiddink

Hiddink had a successful short stint as Chelsea manager in 2009 which saw the club win the FA Cup. The Dutchman was popular among fans and appears a sensible short-term choice. However, his most recent gig, as Netherlands manager, didn't go well. After overseeing a few poor results after replacing Louis van Gaal, he left his post and the national side failed to qualify for next summer's European Championships. Has been made the bookies' favourite.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

David Moyes

The former Manchester United manager was sacked by Real Sociedad at the start of November after making a poor start to the La Liga season. Moyes has since appeared on TV and confirmed that he has had numerous offers to return to management in England, and that he is seeking his next job. His availability could make him a possible target through to the end of the season.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Juande Ramos

The Spaniard will be an unpopular choice after his disastrous spell in charge of Tottenham Hotspur between 2007 and 2008 that lasted just 54 matches. He led Spurs to the League Cup but started the next season with just two points from his first eight matches leading to the appointment of Harry Redknapp.

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Who could replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager?

Avram Grant

Another former Chelsea interim manager, the Israeli led the Blues to the Champions League final in 2008 after taking over after the first time Mourinho was sacked. Has had spells across Europe since but never replicated that success and was never the most popular figure amongst the Chelsea support.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp stressed his belief following Saturday’s defeat that striker Diego Costa needs to start scoring again or risk being dropped, while midfielder Cesc Fabregas came in for huge criticism from Chelsea fans on Twitter after his poor cameo from the substitutes’ bench on Saturday. Eden Hazard put in a much improved showing, but the Belgium international still looks a shadow of his former self this season.

Mourinho on his future

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