Ray Wilkins will again be a key member of Chelsea's coaching staff next season.

The Independent says Chelsea are already preparing the way for Carlo Ancelotti to take over as manager by making assurances to the current assistant first-team coach, Wilkins, that he will be required next season to act as a bridge between the Italian and his players. Wilkins is fluent in Italian from his time as a player at Milan in the 1980s and performed a similar role for Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink this season.

Retaining Wilkins' services is regarded as an important part of introducing Ancelotti to life at Stamford Bridge, should the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, close the deal to sign Milan's 49-year-old coach.

Wilkins, who was a Chelsea player for six years, is fond of impressing his friends with his fluency in Italian but it has been indicated to him that it will be put to greater use in the future than ordering from the menu in local Italian restaurants.