5 contenders for Mourinho’s job

DIEGO SIMEONE Diego Simeone took Atletico Madrid to the La Liga title in 2013-14 ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but perhaps could be tempted by a new challenge in England after four years at the Vicente Calderon.

Simeone is already familiar with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Diego Costa, having managed the pair at Atletico.

It is understood a £15m release clause would have to be met by Chelsea for the 45-year-old Argentinian.

PEP GUARDIOLA

Pep Guardiola is heading for the Premier League after deciding to reject a new £280,000-a-week contract and leave Bayern Munich next summer.

The 44-year-old Spaniard is expected to take over at Manchester City, but Chelsea could now well make their move.

However, City’s dealmakers are ahead of the game and Guardiola would earn around £15m a year, which is around £2m more than what Mourinho was making at Chelsea.

JUANDE RAMOS

German and Ukrainian sources have linked Juande Ramos with the job at Chelsea with the Spaniard out of work since leaving Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk at the end of the 2013-14 season.

The 61-year-old Spaniard has already had one spell in the English Premier League, spending 12 months at Tottenham Hotspur from 2007 to 2008. He left the club at the bottom of the Premier League.

Ramos took up the Real Madrid job in December 2008 but lasted barely six months as the La Liga club ended the season nine points behind rivals Barcelona.

BRENDAN RODGERS

Brendan Rodgers has already spent time at Chelsea as a coach from 2004 to 2008 before leaving to become the manager of Championship club Watford.

Rogers almost took Liverpool to their first ever Premier League title in the 2013-14 season, falling just short to Manchester City.

The 42-year-old was sacked by Liverpool in October this year and, despite links with a club job in Qatar, is still looking for work.

FABIO CAPELLO

Fabio Capello threw his hat into the ring as a potential replacement for Mourinho last month. He said: ‘I am now in Russia, in Moscow. I do not miss the bench. For now I have not received anything but if something interesting comes up, why not?’