Potential Chelsea boss wants Sanchez – report

Matt Stead

Jorge Sampaoli will make an audacious bid to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal if he is made Chelsea manager in the summer.

Sampaoli has been shortlisted by Chelsea as a potential manager as the club press ahead with plans to install a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho in the summer.

Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten as interim boss since taking over in December, but the Dutchman has made it clear that his reign will only be a short-term one until the end of the season.

According to John Richardson of the Daily Express, Sampaoli, along with Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Italy’s Antonio Conte, have been approached by Chelsea with regards to the position.

Sampaoli, who is out of work since quitting Chile soon after their Copa America triumph last year, is thought to be taking English lessons in preparation for joining the Premier League.

Richardson adds that if Sampaoli is made manager, he will press ahead with an audacious attempt to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

Arsenal are unlikely to sell the player they bought for £30million in summer 2014 – especially to a rival – but Sampaoli will persuade Roman Abramovich to make a ‘huge bid’ for Sanchez if he is made boss.

This appears to be a transfer rumour built around the fact that Sampaoli managed Sanchez successfully at Chile. Such a move will never happen, mind.