Speculation over Sarri’s future continues

There continues to be speculation over the future of Maurizio Sarri.

The Daily Mirror say Sarri will be sacked if Chelsea lose Sunday’s Carabao Cup final to Manchester City.

Blues legend Frank Lampard, now manager of Derby, is said to be a contender to take over at Stamford Bridge, as are Zinedine Zidane and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.

The Sun say sacking Sarri would cost Chelsea a relatively low sum of £5m, which would be the cheapest pay-off of a manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

The Daily Telegraph say Sarri is on the brink of being sacked, while The Guardian say he will stay for now but is on thin ice and could be sacked if Chelsea lose at Wembley this weekend.

Sarri is under pressure after some dismal results. [Picture: Adam Matthews/PA Wire]

Chelsea fans barracked Sarri during Monday’s FA Cup defeat against Manchester United at the Bridge.

And The Independent has suggested that the under-pressure head coach is also losing the support of his players.

Sarri insisted his relationship with his players was “good” following the United game and that he was unfazed by criticism from fans.

But The Independent reported on Tuesday that sources have said that the squad “initially thought the Italian was an impressive educator” but “now feel totally ‘overloaded’” by his tactical instructions.

Earlier this week, The Sun claimed that Zidane is interested in managing Chelsea and would like to speak to the club but would want conditions met before taking the job.

The newspaper recently claimed that Chelsea want former Real Madrid boss Zidane to take over if Sarri is axed.

Now The Sun has declared that “the French legend is keen to talk seriously about taking over as boss.”

But it is also claimed that Zidane would set three conditions before agreeing to take over at Stamford Bridge.

They are that Eden Hazard signs a new Chelsea contract, that Zidane is given £200m to spend – and more if players are sold – and that he has a major say in recruitment alongside Blues director Marina Granovskaia.

Over the weekend, the Daily Mail reported that Chelsea’s players believe a change is in the offing following a recent poor run of results, which included a 6-0 hammering at Manchester City.

One player is said to have “confided in his adviser” that he thinks Sarri is close to being sacked.

The Mail also suggested Abramovich’s interest in the club is dwindling and that the Russian now has “less inclination” to compete with big-spending City and Manchester United for top players.

Meanwhile, The Times reported that key figures at the club are questioning Granovskaia’s judgement.