The Daily Express says Abramovich still has veteran coach Hiddink at the top of his list to replace Jose Mourinho, but he faces a major dilemma.
That deal has been offered to the Dutchman with the full knowledge of Abramovich, who pays 50 per cent of his £1.2 million-a-year wages and was responsible for taking Hiddink to Moscow in the first place.
Hiddink said last night: "Abramovich asked me, 'What do you want?' I told him that right now I want to do nothing else except concentrate on Russia. I want to see this through now and then see what happens."
Abramovich still wants Hiddink in west London, but is reluctant to take the highly-rated former PSV Eindhoven, Holland, South Korea and Australia coach away from his country's national team unless the Dutchman announces publicly he wants out.