Laurent Blanc has identified his assistant manager as he prepares to take charge of Chelsea.

The Daily Express says he has moved closer to taking over as the new manager of Chelsea after further talks in the last two days.

One problem that had been holding up former Paris Saint-Germain coach Blanc acceptance of the job had been the appointment of an assistant.

Blanc's normal No 2, Jean-Louis Gasset, who had worked with the former French international defender ever since he first became a manager at Bordeaux and followed him to the French national national side and then PSG, had decided to stay on as manager at Saint-Etienne.

Now though, Blanc is planning to bring former Marseille and Lille coach Franck Passi with him to Stamford Bridge as his No 2 if negotiations are successful.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are still to settle terms with Antonio Conte, who they will have to pay some £9m to compensate for the final year of his contract.