Chelsea Legend Happy to Be Mentioned as Benitez Successor

Brighton boss Gus Poyet is happy to hear his name mentioned when people speculate as to who will be the next Chelsea manager.

With Rafa Benitez making it abundantly clear that he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season there has been a suggestion that Roman Abramovich may attempt to appease the fans by brining ing a former favourite.

Current Watford manager and former Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has been mentioned as one possibility, while Poyet is also said to be in the running after guiding Brighton into the play-off places in the Championship.

Jose Mourinho remains the firm favourite to return to Stamford Bridge, but Poyet is a short as 7/1 with some bookmakers.

"I want to go to the highest level and if it's the Premier League and it's Chelsea, fantastic," Poyet told Sky Sports. "That's my aim. Everybody knows. I don't hide it.

"I like the speculation because it means we are doing something right. But it doesn't change my life at the moment."

The 45-year-old has gained plenty of coaching experience since calling time on his playing days, having worked as assistant manager at Leeds United and as a first team coach at Tottenham under Juande Ramos.

After moving into management with Brighton, Poyet clinched the League One title with four games remaining in the season and was crowned the LMA League One Manager of the Year.

He has since turned Brighton into a top Championship side and he will be hoping that he can secure a place in the play-offs as he looks to lead the Seagulls to the Premier League.

While the Chelsea supporters having never taken to Benitez they have continued to grow great support for former player and manager Roberto Di Matteo, and it is believed that they would readily accept Poyet because of his rich ties with the west London club.

Poyet made more than 100 appearances for Chelsea and helped the club win the UEFA Cup in 1998 and the FA Cup in 2000.