Marcello Lippi has rejected suggestions he has been offered the Chelsea job in the summer. Reports today said Lippi and former Blues boss Gianluca Vialli could become the new management team at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Rijkaard, Juande Ramos, Didier Deschamps, Guus Hiddink, Ronald Koeman and Roberto Mancini have all been strongly linked with Chelsea in recent months even though current coach Jose Mourinho insists he will see out his contract until 2010.

Now World Cup winning coach Lippi has made it clear that Chelsea have not made him an offer and that he harbours doubts about working abroad.

Lippi said: "These are just rumours and I hear many of those. The truth is that I haven't received any offers from Italian clubs, but only from foreign outfits, although Chelsea are not one of those.

"I am enjoying my time, I don't miss working and I might not start a new job this year."

Lippi is concerned about moving outside of Italy where the language problems can often be a hindrance to coaches.

He added: "The main issue is the language, perhaps it would be better to avoid foreign outfits."

Meanwhile Chelsea boss Mourinho could be boosted by a fit-again Joe Cole early next month after the player continues to make impressive progress from his broken foot.

Cole is now running hard, placing weight on his recovering foot and could be back in first team training by the time Chelsea take on Valencia in the Champions League quarter-finals next month.