Chelsea line up Van Basten for Mourinho

LONDON – Chelsea have reportedly offered Marco Van Basten the chance to become the long-term successor to Jose Mourinho.

Director of Football Avram Grant was put in charge of the first team last week after Mourinho’s shock’s departure. But the club have refused to clarify the terms on which the Israeli has stepped into the manager’s chair, fuelling speculation that he is only a stop-gap appointment until Roman Abramovich can find a big-name replacement for Mourinho.A report in Wednesday’s edition of The Sun claimed that Chelsea’s Russian owner had already offered the job to Van Basten, who sat behind Abramovich in the VIP seats as Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.The paper claimed contact between the two had been established through Frank Arnesen, the Dutch head of Chelsea’s youth and scouting operation, and cited former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello as their source.Capello, himself seen as another potential replacement for Mourinho, reportedly said: “Arnesen wants Van Basten to take over and has already recommended Marco to Abramovich.”Frank and Marco know each other well from their time in Dutch football.”On paper at least, Van Basten, 40, would be an ideal appointment for Chelsea.His status as one of the world’s greatest players would appease fans angered by Mourinho’s exit while his record as the Dutch national coach suggests he could deliver the entertaining, attacking football that Abramovich is said to crave.Van Basten is bound to be tempted by the offer but there must be a doubt as to whether he would be willing to quit his country just as they are coming to the end of their qualifying campaign for Euro 2008.The reports linking Chelsea with Van Basten can however only serve to further undermine the position of Grant, whose cause has not been helped by Sunday’s defeat and rumours that some of the club’s biggest names want to follow Mourinho out of Stamford Bridge.Nampa-AFPBut the club have refused to clarify the terms on which the Israeli has stepped into the manager’s chair, fuelling speculation that he is only a stop-gap appointment until Roman Abramovich can find a big-name replacement for Mourinho.A report in Wednesday’s edition of The Sun claimed that Chelsea’s Russian owner had already offered the job to Van Basten, who sat behind Abramovich in the VIP seats as Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.The paper claimed contact between the two had been established through Frank Arnesen, the Dutch head of Chelsea’s youth and scouting operation, and cited former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello as their source.Capello, himself seen as another potential replacement for Mourinho, reportedly said: “Arnesen wants Van Basten to take over and has already recommended Marco to Abramovich.”Frank and Marco know each other well from their time in Dutch football.”On paper at least, Van Basten, 40, would be an ideal appointment for Chelsea.His status as one of the world’s greatest players would appease fans angered by Mourinho’s exit while his record as the Dutch national coach suggests he could deliver the entertaining, attacking football that Abramovich is said to crave.Van Basten is bound to be tempted by the offer but there must be a doubt as to whether he would be willing to quit his country just as they are coming to the end of their qualifying campaign for Euro 2008.The reports linking Chelsea with Van Basten can however only serve to further undermine the position of Grant, whose cause has not been helped by Sunday’s defeat and rumours that some of the club’s biggest names want to follow Mourinho out of Stamford Bridge.Nampa-AFP