Indeed, with Mancini's agents alerting the football world to his availability, a well-placed source says Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has been in contact.
The former Italy international striker would come with the seal of approval of Sven Goran Eriksson, who recommended players to Abramovich when the Russian first took over at Chelsea and was once lined up to be manager himself.
Eriksson is a great admirer of Mancini, whom he coached at Sampdoria and Lazio before encouraging then Leicester boss Peter Taylor to sign him in 2001 at the end of his playing career.
