Chelsea news: Roman Abramovich prepared to break the bank to lure Pep Guardiola

'Money no object' for Russian billionaire

(Getty Images)

Roman Abramovich is ready to break the bank to bring Pep Guardiola to Chelsea in the summer, according to reports.

The Russian billionaire is desperate to land the Spaniard after he made it clear that he would leave Bayern Munich in the summer after three years in charge.

Guardiola almost joined Chelsea in 2012 but backed out of a move as the situation at the club was too unstable, and he was unimpressed by the way the club treated Roberto Di Matteo by sacking him just six months after he won the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho was sacked last week just seven months after landing Chelsea their first Premier League title in five years, leaving Chelsea chasing a permanent replacement in the summer after Guus Hiddink was named interim manager.

Manchester City are current favourites to land Guardiola, but Abramovich is determined to get his man - not only will he make Guardiola the highest paid manager in the world, but he will also fund a huge overhaul of the first-team squad, according to the Daily Mail, who report that 'money is no object' in Chelsea's pursuit.

Despite City being Guardiola's preferred destination, Abramovich believes he holds a trump card: the lure of London.

Guardiola's wife Cristina Serra is said to prefer the capital to the North West.

Sacked Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was paid around £12million annually by Chelsea when he was in charge and Abramovich could offer more and also stump up for a huge overhaul of the squad.

Roman Abramovich tried to lure Guardiola to Chelsea in 2012 (Getty Images)

According to the report Guardiola has already assessed the Chelsea squad and would want 10 new players to come through the doors, a transfer binge Abramovich would sanction.

City are still out in front - and there are even reports he has already agreed a deal with the club - with Guardiola holding key friendships with two of City's main men, chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, the two men who promoted Guardiola from Barcelona B to the first team in 2008.

The pair were important members of Guardiola's success at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, where he won three La Liga titles, the Copa Del Rey twice, two Club World Cups and the Champions League twice.

Antonio Conte and Diego Simeone are still targets for Chelsea, but Guardiola, who has since won two more Bundesliga titles the DFB-Pokal Cup and another Club World Cup with Bayern Munich, is seen as the ultimate prize.