CHELSEA OFFICIALS met Carlo Ancelotti and his representatives last night seeking assurances from the Italian he still intends to swap San Siro for Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, with serious doubts growing over whether the first-choice candidate to succeed Guus Hiddink will pledge himself to a proposed three-year contract in west London.

The club called the meeting anxious to discover where they stand in the search for a permanent manager three weeks before the season ends. Chelsea have been perturbed by indications in Italy that Ancelotti, Milan’s manager of eight years, is wavering towards remaining with the Rossoneri, whose recent revival in Serie A has taken them to the brink of a return to the Champions League. “We are finishing the season very well, results are coming and we are more consistent,” said the Italian yesterday. “I am AC Milan’s manager and I will be doing this job for some time.”

The 49-year-old has an option in his contract at the Italian club, which expires in June, for a further season but had seemed to indicate he was attracted by the prospect of a move to England. Yet having since been reassured by his side’s resurgence he may be more tempted to sign a contract extension at Milan that would commit his future to the club until 2012.

The prospect of Ancelotti rejecting Chelsea’s advances for the second successive summer has unsettled the club’s hierarchy, who had been convinced last month they had secured the two-times European Cup winner’s services after an initial round of pre-contract discussions. Talks had even been held, and agreement reached, over his proposed salary yet Chelsea’s confidence has been eroded in recent weeks.

Chelsea were duly moved to call for a meeting, concerned by a series of public utterances from their principal target suggesting he has no intention of leaving San Siro after all. Ancelotti was quoted in the Italian press last month stating: “I’m not going to Chelsea. I will stay on for next season at least, and we are already working towards strengthening the squad. I am used to all the reports, and they will probably continue, but it’s not a problem.”

He followed that on Sunday, in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with Juventus, by stating: “The time has not yet come for me to be replaced at Milan. It’s easier to win in Europe with Milan than with other clubs, so I am staying here.”

While Ancelotti’s public statements need to be considered carefully given the delicate politics involved at San Siro, they will nevertheless have troubled Roman Abramovich. Chelsea’s owner had hoped to appoint the Italian last summer but was persuaded instead to hire Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The paucity of other obvious candidates would represent a problem for Chelsea, with Hiddink likely to recommend his compatriot Frank Rijkaard, the former Barcelona manager who has spent the season on sabbatical away from the game. Dick Advocaat, currently in charge at Zenit St Petersburg, remains another possible option, while the likes of Roberto Mancini would also be considered.

Hiddink himself retains almost blanket support within the Chelsea dressingroom with the players, resigned to losing the Dutchman at the end of the month, now intent upon securing the FA Cup in his final fixture.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba will be left to sweat over potential Uefa disciplinary charges until at least the end of the season. A Uefa source said Drogba might even have to wait for “five or six weeks” before he learns of his fate for his behaviour following the Champions League exit against Barcelona.

Guardian Service