Manuel Pellegrini to Chelsea: 'Chilean on Blues managerial wishlist this summer'

The City boss can boast the third best win ratio in the Premier League era – behind just Jose Mourinho and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Manuel Pellegrini (Getty)

Outgoing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is likely to be linked with the Chelsea post in the coming weeks as the Blues search for a long-term successor to José Mourinho.

The Portuguese was sacked in December after a disastrous Premier League title defence saw Chelsea languish closer to a relegation struggle than the title race. Guus Hiddink is currently interim manager but the Dutchman has expressed little desire to take the position beyond the end of the current campaign.

Pellegrini can boast the third best win ratio in the Premier League era – behind just Mourinho and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson – and offers clubs a brand of off-field tranquillity of which Mourinho is often incapable.

The Express speculate the Blues are considering an intriguing swoop for one of football’s elder statesmen next summer if a move for first-choice target Antonio Conte, the Italy manager, fails to materialise. 63-year-old Pellegrini is thought to be reluctant to retire when he leaves the Etihad this season and may be inclined to rival his former employers for honours in England.

Conte is preparing to lead the Italian national side to the European Championship in France this summer with bookies placing them as sixth-favourites at this early stage.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has revealed he will try to tempt out-of-contract captain John Terry into signing at Selhurst Park.

The 35-year-old announced following the 5-1 victory against MK Dons in the FA Cup fourth round that Chelsea have notified him they will not offer him a new contract.

Speaking ahead of his side’s encounter with Bournemouth on Tuesday night, Pardew said he has failed to lure the former England skipper to join him on several occasions.

“He always sniggers at the suggestion. Of course I will ask one more time. I'm sure I'll bump into him again and ask the question.”

Terry joined the Blues at the age of 14 and played 696 games for the club along the way to lifting four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League with the Blues. He says he will look abroad for new employers, however, out of loyalty to Chelsea.