COMMENT: Manuel Pellegrini isn't Pep Guardiola. Nor is he Jose Mourinho - which can work in his favour in the race to land the Chelsea job.
At Cobham, the search is well and truly on. Intermediaries have their orders. Agents have been contacted. And pre-contracts discussed. Chelsea want the name of their next manager settled before interim boss Guus Hiddink completes his tenure.
Tribalfootball.com learned over Christmas of an approach to Italy coach Antonio Conte. This week, it broke in Turin that terms had been discussed with Massimiliano Allegri, of Juventus. Interestingly, both Italians have been taking English lessons - sporadically - over the past 18 months.
But it is the news from Santiago which is the most intriguing.
First it came via Pellegrini's agent, Jesus Martinez. Just hours after the Chilean's dramatic announcement on transfer deadline day that he was leaving Manchester City, Martinez piped up to confirm Pellegrini was, indeed, in play. And he wasn't short of offers.
Valencia was mentioned. However, a day later, sources close to the City manager declared Pellegrini favoured staying in England. An offer from Chelsea was confirmed and there had even been soundings from Manchester United.
"It is not clear (at United) about the permanence of Louis van Gaal. But that would be more complicated, because he would leave City for their archrival - and the Chilean is very fond (of City)," declared a coaching peer of Pellegrini's to the respected El Mercurio.
And for Chelsea? "Chelsea is one of the clubs with whom he is conversing, and they showed him a very attractive offer," added the source, who also confirmed a proposal from Valencia and interest from Zenit St Petersburg, but...
"Pellegrini is delighted with the idea of continuing in the Premier League."
The Italians still have their champions inside the Bridge. But after Mourinho, there is a very real and frank discussion taking place about Chelsea doing a full 180 in terms of manager personality - hence the weeks of negotiations with Pellegrini's people.
Conte is very much a coach in Mourinho's vein, thriving on an 'us against the world' spirit within his teams. He'll also go public when things aren't going his way and is known to slap down players and officials with a timely, cutting barb. Allegri isn't as combustible and the way he's built upon the wonderful work of Conte deserves greater recognition.
But in Pellegrini, Chelsea's directors know what they'll be getting. He has won the Premier League. He's won Cups in England. And he's shown he can handle the politics of an international dressing room and demanding board.
As quiet and low-key Pellegrini is, there's no doubting who is in charge at City. The Chilean will confront his multi-millionaires when necessary.
He hasn't been afraid to bench the likes of Yaya Toure, to stare down his outspoken agent Dimitri Seluk and even test the resolve of fans' favourite Joe Hart. Unlike at other clubs, including Chelsea, this hasn't sparked any type of whisper campaign and actually driven both Hart and Toure to new heights.
A key feature Chelsea want in their new manager, we've been told, is success working with South American talent. There'll be tweaks to their transfer policy this summer, but the Brazilian focus isn't going away. Roman Abramovich would happily welcome an all Brazilian Blues XI if he could. And it's a box that Pellegrini ticks.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek? Kenedy? Just look at the way Pellegrini has brought through Kelechi Iheanacho this season and spoken so enthusiastically about the Nigerian.
And the football? Well, no-one's ever accused Pellegrini of parking the bus in England. The Chilean will have Chelsea's players performing as their price-tag warrants.
His success at City is no surprise to those on Chelsea's board. Five years ago, Chelsea and Pellegrini held extensive talks after he left Real Madrid, but it came to nothing.
"But now there is a far greater chance of him taking the job," says that coaching pal.
Pellegrini to Chelsea? This no great gamble. Indeed, it's a deal that makes sense. And for Chelsea, at this time in their history, 'The Engineer' the personality the club needs.
