Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to wait 12 months for Pep Guardiola.

If he cannot talk Guardiola out of taking a sabbatical, Abramovich is willing to wait 12 months to try again to get the Spaniard. But that will not stop him and technical director Michael Emenalo beginning to lay the Barcelona foundations themselves.

A source close to the Blues told the Sunday Mirror: "Abramovich is willing to have ­Guardiola parked for a year if it means getting him. He will play the long game if he has to. Di Matteo and Harry Redknapp are options for one year."