West Ham boss Avram Grant set for shock return to Chelsea if Guus Hiddink turns down sporting director job

EPL ; Avram Grant, West Ham United v Arsenal(getty Images)

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By Greg Stobart

Avram Grant will make a shock return to Chelsea as sporting director if Guus Hiddink turns the role down at the end of the season.

Goal.com understands Grant expects to lose his job as West Ham manager at the end of the season and has held regular conversations with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about a return to Stamford Bridge.

Frank Arnesen, Chelsea’s current sporting director, is leaving for Hamburg in the summer, with Turkey coach Hiddink the club’s first choice as his replacement.

But the Dutchman, who managed the Blues for three months in 2009, is expected to stay in charge of Turkey if they keep alive their Euro 2012 hopes by avoiding defeat against qualification rivals Belgium on June 3. Even if he leaves Turkey, the 64-year-old will also give consideration to offers from Ajax and PSV.

Grant has had a close relationship with Abramovich for many years and was himself Blues boss for most of the 2007-08 season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho. According to sources familiar with the situation, Grant is the only alternative candidate after Hiddink and could be set for a return to Stamford Bridge.

“Abramovich and Grant still talk every week and the understanding is that the job is his if Hiddink turns it down,” a source told Goal.com. “Abramovich trusts very few people in football and he thinks Hiddink and Grant are men who can provide continuity and structure to the football side of the club.”

Grant has three years left of his contract at West Ham but the Israeli is almost certain to leave the club, even if the Londoners avoid relegation from the Premier League this season. The Hammers are bottom of the table, three points from safety with just three games to play.

The West Ham board came close to dismissing Grant earlier in the season after a very public consideration of his future and they continue to be linked with other managers, including former Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill.

Grant, 56, would ideally like to stay in management but is aware that his reputation will be at an all-time low if the Hammers are relegated after he was in charge as Portsmouth went down last year.

His agent, Pini Zahavi, brokered billionaire Abramovich’s purchase of Chelsea in 2003 and introduced the Russian to Grant after his arrival in English football in 2006 as director of football at Portsmouth.

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