Van Gaal said to have emerged as contender for Chelsea job

Dutchman Louis van Gaal has emerged as a leading contender to take over as Chelsea boss, according to the Sunday Mirror.

It is claimed the 60-year-old ­former Ajax, ­Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is ready to return to football after a year out of the game and fancies the job at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is said to want a strong character in charge to handle influential players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Meanwhile, Bobby Zamora regrets joining QPR and is looking for an exit from the club, The People say.

Zamora left Fulham in January.

West Ham would reportedly be interested in re-signing the striker, who had a spell at Upton Park prior to joining Fulham.

Zamora controversially quit Craven Cottage to join Rangers only six weeks ago, but is said to be unhappy – and privately critical of the club’s facilities, including their Harlington training ground.

Last weekend the paper linked Zamora with a move to mega-rich Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala.

The People also suggest that Fulham will try to sign defender Kyle Naughton from Tottenham in the summer.

He is currently on a season-long loan at Norwich, who are expected to capture him on a permanent basis.

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