West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke admits he has long-term ambitions of taking charge of Chelsea.

But Clarke, who has guided the Baggies to seventh in the Barclays Premier League in what is his first season as a club figurehead, says it is too early for him to replace Rafael Benitez.

"It's too early to start connecting me with Chelsea," he said, "there's a lot of managers that have probably got a better case than me.

"I'm not on the bookies' shortlist anyway - and that's normally a good indicator!

"I've not even thought about it. I'm not even a year into my job here and I'm enjoying myself.

"But if it's not this time around, it's never too long before it comes up again.

"And if you are asking me whether I want to be a manager of a top team in the future, then of course.

"If you don't have that ambition, you shouldn't be in the game. But it's not for now."