Roberto Mancini ready to take over as Chelsea manager

Roberto Mancini claims he will be the new Chelsea boss - whatever happens in the Champions League Final.

Mancini is ready to walk out of Inter Milan after steering the San Siro club to their third consecutive Serie A title last night and believes he will take Avram Grant's job after Wednesday's Moscow showdown with Manchester United.

While Chelsea are refusing to make any statement on Grant's future, the Israeli fears he will be axed by owner Roman Abramovic unless the Blues destroy Manchester United.

Grant opened the door for his possible exit as he said: "If the club is not happy with me, no problem. If I'm not happy with them, and I want to leave, I don't think they will make any problems either."

Mancini refused to commit himself to Inter in the aftermath of the 2-0 win at Parma that clinched the title, and President Massimo Moratti would only say: "I think Mancini will stay."

But Chelsea privately refuted the claims, maintaining they had been inundated by calls from Mancini's representatives but had rebuffed them all, telling the Italian that the focus of the club is firmly on the Moscow final.