Marcello Lippi zu FC Chelsea?

EXCLUSIVE: LIPPI IN AT CHELSEA BY XMAS
EXCLUSIVE Chelsea swoop after Grant 'blunder'
By Dave Kidd

Chelsea are ready to appoint Marcello Lippi as their new boss before Christmas after an amazing cock-up over Avram Grant's coaching badges.

Grant does not have the UEFA-approved qualifications needed to take charge of a Premiership club - with Chelsea failing to properly check out the situation before appointing the Israeli as Jose Mourinho's successor.

And Stamford Bridge insiders admit that Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory last year, is the man billionaire owner Roman Abramovich will turn to.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is confident Grant will be cleared to boss Blues by the time his 12-week period of grace expires. But it is understood that Premier League chiefs will not look favourably on his lack of qualifications.

Grant is a stop-gap, with Abramovich initially keen on bringing in Guus Hiddink once his spell as boss of the Russian national team expires. But the coaching-badge fiasco could force them to replace Grant even earlier and Lippi - who is out of work and keen to manage in England - is regarded as the outstanding candidate.

Grant insisted: "I am qualified. It's only a problem because I'm Israeli and it's only their relationship with UEFA that is a problem."

And Kenyon claimed: "In the required timeframe, the necessary paperwork will be there. It's not going to be an issue."