If not Guardiola, Mourinho or Di Matteo WHO will be the next Chelsea manager?

Roman Abramovich is used to having his pick of the best in the game, but this summer he might find things are a bit different. With reports that Pep Guardiola has rejected a second approach to manage Chelsea, the Barcelona manager joins Jose Mourinho in the camp of coaches with no interest in taking charge of the Blues any time soon. Should Roberto Di Matteo lose the Champions League final, he too may find there's no future at Stamford Bridge. The question is, though, if Robbie, Jose and Pep won't be in charge next season, then who will? talkSPORT look at the some of the candidates for the job...

Joachim Loew (Germany)
Joachim Loew is the genius behind Germany's challenge for Spain's European crown, but his experience also extends to club level. The high point of Loew's club career was taking Vfb Stuttgart to the final of the 1998 European Cup Winners' Cup, losing to none other than Chelsea. Other spells at Fenerbahce and Adanaspor were less successful, but Mr Abramovich isn't known for his brilliant memory. Recent success with the German national side would therefore be enough to tempt the Russian into moving for Loew, should Di Matteo not do enough to keep his job.

Verdict: Joachim Loew's availability is likely to depend on Germany's success this summer. Should Germany win Euro 2012, Loew would have the chance to rival Spain by leading his team towards a potential World and Euro Cup double at Brazil 2014. In such a scenario Loew is unlikely to make himself available for a club side. Even if Germany lose out in Poland and Ukraine, would a club as volatile as the Blues be the best place for Loew's return to club management?

Likelihood: 5/10

Antonio Conte (Juventus)
Serie A winners Juventus have finally returned to the top of Italian football, and much of their success is down to coach Antonio Conte. The former Siena man has transformed the Turin defence in particular, taking the team from a leaky shambles to a defensive rock that remains unbeaten in both the league and cup. Conte's stock is rising as a result, and after the job he has done at Juventus, Roman Abramovich could be tempted to ask him to do the same thing at Chelsea.

Verdict: With no guarantee that the Blues will be in the Champions League next year, it's difficult to see Conte turning down Juve's first foray in Europe's top flight for years in favour of the Europa League with Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti's experience in London won't give him much inspiration either, so it looks like Conte is another top name out of Chelsea's league.

Likelihood: 3/10

Laurent Blanc (France)
Roman Abramovich wants a young, successful manager with a clear style to take charge of Chelsea and, like Conte, Laurent Blanc fits the bill. Blanc's club experience is short but enviable, having guided Bordeaux to second place in his first season as a manager, then winning League 1 the following year. His influence is best summed up by Bordeaux's failures since his departure; the French side currently sit in a miserable seventh position. In his spell as France coach he has managed to turn a side in capitulation under Raymond Domenech to a rising force that has recorded victories over the likes of Germany, England and Brazil, suggesting his success wasn't just a one-off.

Verdict: Laurent Blanc has managed to make France look like a decent side again, which is no mean feat considering their failures under Domenech. This, combined with his brilliant spell at Marseille, makes him a tempting target for Abramovich, particularly when considering Blanc's familiarity with the English game as a player. France are unlikely to win Euro 2012, so barring a minor miracle, Blanc is one of the more likely candidates to be tempted by Roman's millions and certain . No compensation is needed should he leave the France job, either.

Likelihood: 7/10

Fabio Capello (free agent)
Fabio Capello may be considered a flop as England coach, but it's easy to forget that at club level his record is second to none. As Milan manager he took on the impossible job of replacing Arrigo Sacchi, and responded by leading them to four Serie A titles in five years plus a Champions League win. Two spells at Real Madrid brought two La Liga trophies, along with an additional Serie A title with Roma. Capello also claimed two Serie A trophies with Juventus, though both have now been revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal. Regardless, Capello's success as a club coach is impossible to deny, and though he may be older than the other candidates, his experience is difficult to see past. Capello has recently said he'd love one more challenge as a coach, and an English club is his preferred destination.

Verdict: Fabio Capello is one of the most decorated club managers in the game and, better still, he's available. His preference to stay in London despite big money offers from clubs in China suggests he would jump at the chance to take charge of Chelsea, and Roman Abramovich would be foolish to overlook him. The only stumbling blocks may be Capello's desire to manage a team in the Champions League and the reality that Chelsea would move further away from the fantasy football Abramovich craves, but that may be put aside in order to ensure the Blues return to Europe's top table as soon as possible.

Likelihood: 8/10

Avram Grant (Partizan Belgrade)
Though something of a joke figure in English football these days, Avram Grant's spell at Chelsea wasn't without success. A 16-game unbeaten run in 2007 and that fateful Champions League final in Moscow are not to be scoffed at, although leading Portsmouth and West Ham to successive relegations from the Premier League somewhat overshadows his past glories. Grant's current position as Partizan Belgrade manager suggests few big English clubs have been interested in his services since, so even if Chelsea lose out on Champions League football next season, they could surely - no, definitely - do better.

Verdict: Roman Abramovich is known for his unpredictable managerial appointments, but heralding the comeback of uncle Avram would be crazy even by the Russian's standards. Never say never, but if Chelsea took Grant back it would surely be one of the most unwelcome comebacks in football history. There's more chance of AVB returning to pick the Champions League final XI.

Likelihood: 1/10

talkSPORT verdict
Much was made of Roberto Di Matteo's audition for the Chelsea job, but in truth Roman Abramovich is left with few options other than the current Chelsea interim. With both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho ruled out of the race this summer, Chelsea are unlikely to tempt the majority of the top managers, something Blues fans may have to get used to. Fabio Capello and Laurent Blanc are both realistic targets, though not without their own complications, and Joachim Loew remains an unlikely outsider's shout. The reality is that Roberto Di Matteo may well be Chelsea's best option, regardless of whether he wins the Champions League in Munich or not.

Can Chelsea realistically still tempt the best managers in the game if they aren't in the Champions League? Should Roberto Di Matteo be given a chance even if he loses in Munich? Let us know below...