The one that got away

Tony Cascarino told Sky Sports News that Chelsea blew it by failing to snap up Mark Hughes.

Tony Cascarino told Sky Sports News that Chelsea missed a "golden opportunity" by failing to lure Mark Hughes to Stamford Bridge. Former Blackburn boss Hughes signed a three-year deal to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson at Manchester City on Wednesday, while Chelsea are still searching for Avram Grant's replacement. And Cascarino, who made 40 appearances for the Blues, thinks Welshman Hughes would have been the perfect choice for the Premier League and Champions League runners-up. "They missed a golden opportunity in Mark Hughes," Cascarino said. "An ex-Chelsea player who did an unbelievable job with Blackburn; he had no money but his transfer dealings - Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy and David Bentley - were spot on. "I think it was a big miss for Chelsea and the fans would've loved it as well." Cascarino has tipped former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard as the man best-equipped to fill the Chelsea hotseat - and despite failing to land Hughes, he believes owner Roman Abramovich will now act quickly. "It's important but it's not panic stations for Chelsea - I'm sure we'll know who the new man is in the next couple of weeks."