According to the Daily Mail, Serie A club As Roma have identified Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri as the man to replace under fire Eusebio Di Francesco after his side was dumped out of the champions league last night. Sportsmail understands Roma’s failure to progress past Porto on Wednesday night means boss Eusebio Di Francesco will not last beyond the end of the season.Sarri is one of the Italian side’s top choices to take over as manager.
Maurizio Sarri could be offered an escape route from Chelsea should the Roma job emerge
After a Champions League exit, Eusebio Di Francesco is not expected to remain next season Roma went down 3-1 at Porto on Wednesday night, with a 4-3 aggregate defeat sending them out of Europe’s top competition. Sarri is still under pressure at Chelsea despite a recent upturn in form after humiliating defeats away at Bournemouth and Manchester City. Blues owner Roman Abramovich is set on Champions League qualification next season and that continues to remain in the balance.
Roma’s players were left heartbroken after their exit having reached semi-finals last season Italian media reported Sarri’s contact with Roma last month, while the former Napoli boss has a residence near the Italian capital. Franco Baldini and president James Pallotta were reported to have had dinner with Sarri in London – talk he laughed off following a 3-0 Europa League win over Malmo.
Sportsmail reported on Wednesday that the Chelsea board consulted under- Sarri over the club’s pre-season plans despite fears he may not survive into next season. Sarri almost took Napoli to a famous title last year before running out of steam when head-to-head with Juventus in the end.
Sarri’s future remains uncertain but he has been consulted about Chelsea’s pre-season plans A brief upturn in form has eased growing calls for a change but speaking ahead of facing Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, Sarri insisted his future in west London is ‘not important’ right now. The Italian said: ‘I have said it’s not important if I’m here next season. At this moment, it’s important only the results. ‘In this moment, Dynamo Kiev is everything. I am confident otherwise I won’t be able to do my work. I have to think this [that I will be here next season] if I want to do my job.’