Laurent Blanc has emerged as a new candidate to replace Antonio Conte at Chelsea this summer, reports The Daily Mail.
Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri is Chelsea’s top choice but talks are in danger of going cold as they struggle to prise the Italian out of his current deal.
Chelsea refused to match Sarri’s £7m release clause, which expired on Thursday, and will struggle to agree a fee with Napoli.
The Premier League giants are now seriously considering appointing Blanc as their manager for next season and the Frenchman would represent a significantly cheaper option.
Blanc has been out of work since being sacked as Paris Saint-Germain manager two years ago, but his appointment would likely divide opinion among supporters.
The former Manchester United defender was a roaring success for PSG on the domestic front, but struggled to progress the Ligue 1 giants in Europe.
Blanc won 72.8% of his matches in charge of PSG, winning a domestic treble on two occasions.
