Lotti cannot work in the Premier League for the next 12 mths
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Chelsea give Ancelotti £6m to put his feet up for a year
Sitting pretty: Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to wait for a second stint in English football
Carlo Ancelotti cannot work in the Premier League for the next 12 months because of the £6million pay-off he agreed with Chelsea.
The Londoners do not want the Italian in charge of a rival club next season and have made that a condition of his severance package, just as they did when Jose Mourinho left in 2007.
Ancelotti, who was sacked at the end of the season, last week turned down the chance to take over at Aston Villa, saying that he intended to take a 12-month break.
He had been a target for Roma, but the Italian wants to manage in England again and is prepared to put his feet up and wait.
Chelsea tried to replace him last Christmas with Turkey manager Guus Hiddink.
The plan was for the Dutchman to return in a caretaker capacity, just as he did when he was manager of Russia in 2009. He took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari while continuing his national team duties.
This time, Chelsea were told Hiddink could not do the same again, so the London club had to wait until now before approaching the Turkish FA about an early release from his contract.
Up for it: Guus Hiddink enjoyed a successful stint as caretaker boss at Chelsea
Hiddink, 64, is likely to bring former Manchester City fitness coach Raymond Verheijen to Stamford Bridge if he is allowed to join Chelsea next week.
Verheijen, who worked under Hiddink with South Korea, Russia and Australia and also worked with Chelsea's squad when Hiddink was there, will be brought in as a member of the backroom staff.
Chelsea would like to pair Hiddink with Mark Hughes but if they cannot strike a deal, the Dutchman is likely to take the manager's job for a year before becoming sporting director.
Pep Guardiola, who is committed to Barcelona for another year, may then become an option next summer.