Guus Hiddink has an escape clause in his contract with the Turkish football federation that allows him to move to Stamford Bridge if Chelsea come calling.
Turkish officials admitted they were resigned to losing their Dutch coach and the 64-year-old is expected to be confirmed as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor later this week.
Hiddink has remained close to Roman Abramovich, acting in an advisory role since his 2009 stint as manager of the club.
And now it seems the Russian billionaire always had it in mind to bring back Hiddink should it not work out with Ancelotti.
The Turkish federation have accepted Hiddink will quit. One senior source is reported to have told the BBC: “Chelsea is too good an offer to turn down and the Federation understands this. Hiddink feels he still has a job to do there. He wants to work every day and win championships and maybe the Champions League.
“We understand that he has coached his last Turkey game as long as Chelsea pay the compensation.”
Meanwhile, Hiddink has reportedly already begun advising Chelsea on possible summer transfers, with the Dutchman apparently keen on Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder.
Chelsea would ne to outbid rivals Manchester United and City for Sniejder’s services but his £200,000-a-week wage demands could be beyond United, leaving Chelsea as the more more attractive option than City.