LAURENT BLANC is in pole position to become Chelsea boss.
The club’s hopes of persuading Zinedine Zidane to head to London are fading, with claims the Frenchman is lined up for a move to Qatar.
It leaves his 1998 World Cup-winning team-mate Laurent Blanc as the front runner to claim the hotseat should present manager Antonio Conte leave Stamford Bridge.
SunSport revealed how Chelsea were ready to open negotiations with Zidane after his shock resignation from Real Madrid.
Chelsea want to discover if Zidane is looking for a rapid dug-out return or planning time off.
But Zidane has been linked with a stunning four-year deal with the 2022 World Cup hosts alleged to be worth £44million per year.
The Qataris, who have never qualified for a World Cup, are desperate to make a splash when they are the controversial tournament hosts in four and a half year’s time.
Zidane signed up as an ambassador for the Qataris as part of their surprise success bid to host the tournament.
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The move would allow him effectively a sensationally-rewarded part-time job in the build-up to the World Cup.
And if Zidane is off the table, Chelsea are set to step up their move to land former France and PSG boss Blanc, who has leapfrogged ahead of ex-Napoli chief Mauricio Sarri.
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Blanc is felt by the Chelsea hierarchy to be more of a fit than Sarri, who came under fire in Italy last season for homophobic comments during a touchline clash with then-Inter chief Roberto Mancini.
The 52-year-old, who won a total of four Ligue 1 crowns with Bordeaux and PSG, is available to come immediately with no compensation package and is said to be desperate to get back into top flight football after two years out.
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