Chelsea want Gianfranco Zola to become a coach at Stamford Bridge, according to Sky Sports News sources.
Blues want former Stamford Bridge great back at club
Chelsea want Gianfranco Zola to become a coach at Stamford Bridge, according to Sky Sports News sources.
Chelsea are six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, with two games to go after their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Sources say there is no suggestion the former West Ham manager is being lined up to replace manager Carlo Ancelotti and discussions will focus on a coaching role at the club where he scored 80 goals in 312 games.
Zola is not yet believed to have been contacted by Chelsea and a club spokesman said the club would not comment on "speculation".
Ray Wilkins left Chelsea in November last year and the club promoted Michael Emenalo to assistant first team coach.
Former Parma manager Ancelotti, whose own future is the subject of much media speculation, sold Zola to Chelsea for £4.5m in 1996.
"We have to wait two weeks - it is not a long time." said Ancelotti after Sunday's defeat. "I hope to stay but it is not my decision."
Ancelotti added that he did not know owner Roman Abramovich's opinion of the season, but he admitted the club could have done better.
Honest
He added: "I don't know what the owner thinks about the season but in my opinion we could have done better.
"I am honest to say that Chelsea didn't do its best this season but sometimes that can happen. Last season we had a fantastic season, this year it was a little bit different."
Asked whether he favoured returning to his native Italy, the Chelsea coach said he would one day - but has found England very much to his liking.
He said: "Italy is my country and I cannot say I don't want to come back to Italy - I will come back to Italy one day as I love my country.
"But in the last two years I have found a fantastic atmosphere in football, a fantastic country, and I respect the people. There is no violence in the stadium, the stadiums are full and I would like to stay here for these reasons."
