Luiz Felipe Scolari set to be offered Brazil escape route - exclusive

Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to be offered a return ticket to Brazil if he falls out of love with Chelsea.

Embattled Brazil coach Dunga faces the axe in the New Year after a stumbling 2010 World Cup qualification campaign, which has seen them win just four of their 10 games.

And Brazilian FA president Ricardo Teixeira is coming under increasing pressure to sack the former World Cup-winning skipper - and ask Scolari to perform the same salvation act that he did before, leading his country toWorld Cup glory in 2002.

Chelsea were booed off at Stamford Bridge after Sunday's 1-1 draw with West Ham extended their awful recent home league run to just one win in five games.

Scolari publicly insists that his only interest is guiding the Blues to the domestic and European crowns Roman Abramovich craves.

But a fresh call from his homeland might make the 60-year-old stop and think.

Pressed on whether he was ready to ditch under-pressure Dunga, Teixeira would only say: "This is not the time to discuss that. We are coming close to Christmas."

But sources close to Teixeira insisted last night that Brazil are likely to turn again to Scolari. "Dunga is very unpopular, both among the fans and the Brazilian Federation," said the insider.

"It looks like a matter of time before he goes and that means Teixeira has to make the right appointment.

"He will definitely ask Felipao first. It looks as if Felipao is not enjoying himself at Chelsea, and maybe he might want to listen to what Teixeira is saying."

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