Carvalho: Scolari's the coach we want

The Blues defender has played under Scolari for Portugal since 2003 and has become a big fan of the Brazilian's style of management.

Scolari is the new favourite to replace Avram Grant after AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti rejected the opportunity last week. But whoever takes over will have to manage without star striker Didier Drogba, who today moved closer to a £20million switch to AC Milan.

Chelsea challenged strongly for the Premier League and Champions League last season despite constant speculation that Grant didn't have the full support of many of the players.

But Carvalho says that won't be an issue with Scolari, although he admits to being unsure if the 59-year-old can be persuaded to leave his international post.

The centre-half, who played in Portugal's 2-0 win over Turkey at Euro 2008 on Saturday, said: "Everyone knows his contract with Portugal comes to an end after Euro 2008 and maybe he will move to the Premier League, I am not sure.

"But he is a top manager, he keeps all the players together and he is very strong with the people in the squad.

"Sometimes players need that and, as a man, he is great as well.

"We will have to wait, but if Portugal do well in the tournament he might stay, I don't know." The appointment of Scolari would certainly help Chelsea's bid to convince Carvalho to stay at the club, having been linked with a move to Real Madrid and Inter Milan this summer.

Carvalho's international and club team-mate Paulo Ferreira also supports Scolari.

He said: "If you talk about the top teams, they don't only want good players but a top manager as well. I would like Scolari. He has been an international manager for five or six years, but before that he was at a lot of clubs, so we know he can do it."

Meanwhile, the man tasked with finding the new manager, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, was reportedly in Milan over the weekend.

It has been suggested he was making a fresh attempt to sway Ancelotti, but Chelsea are also in negotiations with AC Milan over the sale of Drogba.

The 30-year-old is almost certainly on his way out of Stamford Bridge, but the Italian giants are hoping to get Drogba for around £18m, but Chelsea are demanding closer to £30m.

The cash generated from the deal could be then be used to fund a bid for Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o as a replacement.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed talks are ongoing over Drogba, but claims Chelsea aren't willing to let Andrei Shevchenko return to his former club.

It is understood the two clubs have failed to agree terms - with Milan looking to take him on loan and only pay part of his £130,000-a-week wages, while Chelsea are trying to redeem some of the £30.8m they paid in 2006 for his signature.