Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is agonising over whether to keep faith with Roberto Mancini or bring in Jose Mourinho - throwing Chelsea's plans for a new manager into doubt.

It had appeared that Moratti was ready to hand Mourinho the reins this summer, leaving the way clear for Mancini to possibly take over at Stamford Bridge.

But after Mancini guided Inter to their third Serie A title earlier this month, Moratti is now considering giving the 43-year-old one more chance to lead the club to Champions League glory.

If Mancini stayed, it would open up the possibility of a return to Chelsea for Mourinho, who was sacked by the club last September.

On being linked with the Chelsea job, Mancini said: "It is not true that I have offered myself to Chelsea."

The former striker's agent, Giorgio De Giorgis added: "Roberto has never received phone calls from London, and anyway, he has a four-year contract, so he would never have taken such a thing into consideration.

"Moratti and Mancini will meet to discuss the future, although not necessarily in the short term."

Another contender for the Stamford Bridge post, Didier Deschamps, is more positive about being in the frame.

The 39-year-old, who played for the Blues in the 1999/2000 season, has been out of work since leaving Juventus last year and said: "Three or four managers are on the list and I am one of them. It would be hard to refuse Chelsea. I want to return to coaching and am flattered to be considered a possible candidate"