Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti his No1 target after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari. The Sun says Scolari's abrupt departure yesterday saw owner Roman Abramovich trying to accelerate a deal but Milan are unlikely to release Ancelotti in mid-season.

The Italian coach turned down the job at Stamford Bridge last summer before it was eventually offered to Scolari.

But an agreement with Milan he would leave at the end of this season had already been brokered and now Chelsea have reopened negotiations.

Milan have lined up their former player and ex-Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard to take over at the San Siro for 2009-10.

Only Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi can allow Ancelotti to leave before the end of the season.

If that permission is refused, Chelsea may have be forced to hire a caretaker until the summer.

Avram Grant, who left the club last May, has been mentioned as a possibility but would be an unpopular choice with the players.