Chelsea eye up Premier League boss as Maurizio Sarri's replacement
Watford manager Javi Gracia is being considered as a replacement for outgoing Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, say reports.
The Italian is poised to depart Stamford Bridge after just one year to take over at Serie A champions Juventus.
Chelsea are unlikely to stand in Sarri’s way of a departure and have been weighing up potential options to replace him.
ESPN FC reports that Gracia, who led Watford to the FA Cup final and 11th place in the Premier League this season, is being looked at.
Massimiliano Allegri, who departed Juve after five years in charge at the end of the season, has also been touted as a candidate.
But sources told the outlet that the Blues hierarchy are reluctant to bring in a third consecutive Italian coach after the playing squad struggled with the approach of Sarri and his predecessor Antonio Conte.
Although Allegri will be considered, Gracia has impressed senior Chelsea figures with his coaching ability and style of football.
Club legend Frank Lampard has also been heavily linked with the role after guiding Derby County to the Championship play-off final in his first season in management, where the Rams were beaten by Aston Villa.
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Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
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