Hiddink is Blues' cure

Hiddink: perfect for Chelsea

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The man to replace the axed Luiz Felipe Scolari as Chelsea manager should be Guus Hiddink, who is in talks to take the job.

That is the view of former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, who said that the Russia manager is the perfect fit to fill the vacancy following Scolari's sacking yesterday.

However Cundy does not believe that Avram Grant is in the running for the Stamford Bridge hotseat, despite reports suggesting he could resume the position he was fired from last May.

"The manager of my choice, if I had one, would be Guus Hiddink, for what he's done at PSV, and of course he had a short spell at Real Madrid, and he's been a national manager," Cundy told Sky Sports News.

"As a club manager, I think he still has something to prove.

"Grant? I don't see the Avram Grant story, but nothing surprises me in football. It can be the strangest business in the world. You can't discount him.

There has been talk that a deal could be struck to appoint Hiddink within the next 24 hours, but Cundy's opinion is that contractual complications may prolong negotiations, with the Dutchman apparently unwilling to leave his post as Russia manager for west London.

"I'd be very surprised if it's done in the next 24 hours if it's Hiddink, because he's said he's not interested, hands off, and there's been some dealing with the Russian FA, and Roman has some very close links with him," Cundy added.

"That's possibly carrying a bit more credibility. The Avram Grant one - I can't see it personally."