Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants a big piece of Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. The Times says Abramovich has already made informal contact with Pep Guardiola's camp about moving to London to replace the sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

A contract offer worth £12 million will be tabled to the Spaniard.

And the Russian billionaire hopes to further convince Guardiola by bringing in former Barca sports director Txiki Begiristain to oversee all football matters.

Begiristain came close to joining Chelsea at the start of the season and remains out of work since leaving Barca after Sandro Rosell's presidential triumph.