Rafael Benitez 'in pole position to take on Chelsea job'

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has become the bookmakers' favourite to be appointed by Chelsea as the club's new manager on a temporary basis.

The Premier League outfit are in the hunt for a new first-team boss after sacking Roberto Di Matteo this morning following last night's 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League.

Benitez, who has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in 2010, is the odds-on favourite to replace Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge on an interim role.

Despite the rumours, Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has insisted that the Blues have not approached the 52-year-old over the vacancy.

Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, who is on a year's sabbatical, is thought to be the main target for Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.