Chelsea target Pep Guardiola

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has targeted Barcelona's Pep Guardiola to take charge at Stamford Bridge next season, according to reports.

Guardiola, whose contract with the Spanish outfit expires this summer, was understood to be Chelsea's original target to take over from Carlo Ancelotti a season ago.

However, Abramovich is believed to have lost patience with the Italian's eventual replacement and current Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas. He will now turn his attention back to the Spaniard, according to The Mirror.

The former Porto manager has endured an up-and-down campaign in his first season at Stamford Bridge, but defeat at West Bromwich Albion could be the last straw.