SLAVEN BILIC has emerged as a shock contender to become Chelsea’s new boss.
Reports claim Blues chief exec Peter Kenyon has already made contact with the Croatia coach.
Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is actively helping the club find his successor for when he quits this summer and is close pals with Bilic.
The ex-West Ham star has a contract until 2010 but could be lured into club management by a big job such as Chelsea, particularly if his World Cup plans flop.
Defeat to Ukraine on June 6 could see Croatia slip to third in Group Six.
AC Milan’s Carlos Ancelotti is the favourite to take over from Hiddink.
But he has been in talks with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani all week about extending his contract through to 2011.
Ancelotti said: “I’ll stay on for next season at least. I’m used to all the reports — but it’s not a problem.”
Reports claim Blues chief exec Peter Kenyon has already made contact with the Croatia coach.
Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is actively helping the club find his successor for when he quits this summer and is close pals with Bilic.
The ex-West Ham star has a contract until 2010 but could be lured into club management by a big job such as Chelsea, particularly if his World Cup plans flop.
Defeat to Ukraine on June 6 could see Croatia slip to third in Group Six.
AC Milan’s Carlos Ancelotti is the favourite to take over from Hiddink.
But he has been in talks with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani all week about extending his contract through to 2011.
Ancelotti said: “I’ll stay on for next season at least. I’m used to all the reports — but it’s not a problem.”