Departing AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is desperate for Filippo Galli to follow him to Chelsea.

The Daily Mail says it is no secret that he wants to bring his assistant from Milan, Galli, who is an English speaker, but Chelsea are equally insistent that the new manager will work with existing coaches, including Ray Wilkins and Paul Clement. They want continuity; Ancelotti wants a familiar support system.

Ancelotti is described by those who have dealt closely with him as a man who likes his allies to be friends, who is happiest working in a social environment and who will need more than Wilkins' membership of the old boys club at AC Milan to form a bond.

His grasp of English is not great and even if he has more than a month to learn before the players report for training, he will still be dependent on his support staff in London. Chelsea say there is no problem with bringing an assistant but do not want a vanload of Italian coaches displacing those already employed. Everyone in Italy who is familiar with Ancelotti and the way he works believes this could grow into an issue, long-term.