The Mail on Sunday says middlemen approached Chelsea to alert them about the availability of Loew, who had to recover from the 2-1 group game defeat by Croatia to guide his team to this evening's showpiece against Spain in Vienna. But Chelsea initially chose to pursue AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti before turning to Scolari.

Germany's run to the final included a last-eight 3-2 win over Portugal and the Stamford Bridge club's decision to announce Scolari's appointment days before the game was blamed by many back in Portugal for the defeat.

If Loew's side prevail against Spain tonight, Chelsea may have cause to regret missing out on a coach with a reputation for playing the attractive, winning football which their billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is said to crave.

Even when Loew was assistant to former Germany head coach Jurgen Klinsmann - another former Chelsea target - he was the one credited with masterminding the 2006 World Cup campaign.