Chelsea are expected to go foreign again as a replacement for sacked coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Daily Mail says Russia coach Guus Hiddink is Blues owner Roman Abramovich's favourite.
If Hiddink can't be hired, Chelsea will examine a shortlist that includes Roberto Mancini, Frank Rijkaard and Bernd Schuster, while Sven Goran Eriksson is in a precarious position with Mexico and Avram Grant has not yet found employment after leaving Chelsea last May.