It is now thought that Enzo Maresca will be in pole position for the new Chelsea manager.
The Blues have reportedly contacted Leicester to ask for permission to move forward with negotiations with the Foxes boss.
Maresca and former Brighton player Roberto De Zerbi had hoped they had done enough to convince Chelsea’s bosses that they were the best man to take charge at Stamford Bridge.
But now, Maresca, 44, looks set to win Mauricio Pochettino’s renewal at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank were the last three contenders for Chelsea’s spot, after the Blues parted ways with Kieran McKenna from Ipswich.
Chelsea bosses carried out a careful procedure to recruit a replacement for Pochettino, who left the Blues by mutual agreement last week.
Former Manchester City assistant coach Maresca led Leicester into the league this season, having spent time learning his industry from Pep Guardiola.
Maresca has won ardent admirers among the Stamford Bridge hierarchy, sporting co-administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
The duo would have proposed Maresca as a candidate for the new coach of Les Bleus.
It is now believed that the players of the Stamford Bridge club are convinced of Maresca’s suitability.
Maresca himself would like the job, and Chelsea will have to pay Leicester a refund of around £9m to keep him away from the East Midlands club.
Former Tottenham manager Pochettino turned Chelsea’s 11th-place finish in April into a sixth-place finish as the club qualifies for next season’s Europa Conference League.
The 52-year-old had already left the team before his European fate was determined, which depended on the final result of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Manchester United’s 2-1 win over rivals City dropped Chelsea out of Europa League qualifying.
Pochettino has an immediate option for United after leaving Chelsea and remains under the attention of Old Trafford bosses.
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