Jose Mourinho sacked: Guus Hiddink confirms Chelsea talks are ongoing but refuses to make decision yet

Guus Hiddink has finally broken the silence over his expected return to Chelsea, confirming he is in talks to become the new interim Blues manager following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho on 17 December. The Dutchman, nevertheless, has claimed he wants more information about the role before making a final decision. He will not be on the bench for the Premier League match against Sunderland on 19 December.

The former Chelsea caretaker was installed as the odds-on favourite to replace Mourinho in the immediate aftermath of Chelsea's announcement on Thursday afternoon – with ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Juande Ramos reportedly being also under consideration as a shock alternative.

BBC reported on Friday morning that Hiddink's appointment was set to be confirmed, with the 69-year-old Dutchman already arriving in London to finalise the terms of the deal.

Hiddink has admitted to De Telegraaf that the talks are ongoing, but iterated that he is yet to make a decision.

"I want to get some good insight before I make my decision. I want as much information as possible. Chelsea are in a bad situation and there are reasons for that," he admitted.

Hiddink claimed that, regardless of his final decision, Chelsea's assistant first-team coach Steve Holland and Eddie Newton will be in the dugout for the game against Sunderland.

"The coaches will [take charge against Sunderland]. Whether or not I visit their next match depends on my first conversation. Then I'll decide if I should stay in London longer."

Hiddink would be expected to take the job until the end of the campaign, when the Chelsea board will try to find a new long-term manager. The former Real Madrid coach took a similar role in 2009, following the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge in February of that year. He led the Blues to the FA Cup, made the Champions League semi-final and finished the season in third place.

Hiddink is currently a free agent after being sacked as Dutch national coach last summer as the Netherlands' Euro 2016 qualifying campaign went off the rails, having replaced Louis van Gaal following the 2014 World Cup.