Guus Hiddink is seriously considering staying with Chelsea beyond the end of the season. The Daily Star says the Dutchman is so serious that he has already sounded out his former PSV colleague Hans van der Zee about joining him at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink, who faces his first Champions League match in charge of the Blues against Juventus tonight, said last week he has no plans to stay on in London after this campaign ends.

He claimed he was only doing the job as a favour to Roman Abramovich and intended to go back full-time to his job as coach of Russia.

But it is understood Hiddink, 62, made the statement to avoid causing unrest in Russia, where the football authorities are already unhappy about him sharing his workload.

"He wants to let them down gently," said a source.

Van der Zee, 53, and Hiddink are very close, having worked together for four years at PSV. As the Dutch club's talent scout, he built up fantastic contacts in South America.