Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has said that Chelsea should consider the recruitment of Eddie Howe for the managerial role at the end of the season. Maurizio Sarri has endured a mixed campaign by his standards during his debut campaign with the Blues, and the club are currently just outside of the top four positions with four games to play.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said that there could be a change in management at the Bridge this summer, should Roman Abramovich continue to remain the owner at the club. He added that Sarri has not quite met his expectations after flourishing during his final year at Napoli, and Howe would be his preferred choice to take over at the helm ahead of next season.

He said: "If Roman Abramovich is still there next year and he hasn't sold the club, Eddie Howe could be the next manager of Chelsea“. He plays an expansive game of football. Chelsea fans want to see action and I know the owner doesn't go as much now but he also wants to see action. Sarri was brought in to play the Napoli way. Score lots of goals and play gung-ho football. It was never going to happen but “Howe plays that way.“ He opens the game up a lot better than Chelsea do."

At the present moment, the Blues are just outside of the top four positions on goal difference but they have played an extra game more than fourth-placed Arsenal. As such, they cannot afford any slip-ups for the rest of the reason if they are to make a late push for the Champions League places. Otherwise, they can progress to the competition by winning the Europa League. Should neither be the case, Sarri could be axed from the head coach role during the summer.