Premier League defending champions Chelsea might turn to Marco Silva should the Blues axe Antonio Conte before the end of the season.

The former Watford boss, who was sacked by the Vicarage Road club last month, is apparently in the frame to take up the reins on a short-term basis and replace Italian Conte.

According to the Times, Silva is much admired by Marina Granovskaia, the club’s influential director, and is seen as a man who could life the spirits in the Stamford Bridge dressing room.

With candidates few and far between until the summer, the 40-year-old Portuguese looks to be in prime position for the role with Guus Hiddink considered another option and former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique potentially lined up.