Ancelotti could return to London next Summer

Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly decided to take a break from football, but the Arsenal job may tempt next Summer him according to reports in Italy. The former Chelsea boss was sacked after Bayern’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

The 58-year-old has been predictably linked with West Ham but Italian website Mediaset Premium says Ancelotti has decided to sit out the rest of the season in order to go travelling. A competing story in the Sunday Express today said West Ham’s bid to line up Carlo Ancelotti as Slaven Bilic’s replacement is doomed to failure after he was offered £13 million a year to manage Chinese outfit Guanghzou Evergrande.

Following the Hammers relegation in 2011 Ancelotti told the News of the World:

“I would coach West Ham – why not, It’s a challenge to manage a team outside of the top four and even in the Championship.”

“The atmosphere at West Ham is amazing and I can say the same about football in the Championship. I have respect for every team and the job of my colleagues. It is the same and it doesn’t matter if you can manage a top team or a smaller team.”

However, a club source told Claret and Hugh earlier this week “That’s fantasy talk because he hasn’t managed anything other than a top club for years.  It’s unlikely that he would want to now and he would cost a fortune anyway.”