Maurizio Sarri could be sacked by Chelsea throughout the international break, after the Blues fell to a 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday.
The Blues are struggling to land a top-four finish in the Premier League and look set to go without a trophy this season – unless they win the Europa League.
Former Napoli boss Sarri was only appointed back in the summer, when Chelsea paid £4.4m to acquire him.
They also sacked Antonio Conte at an estimated cost of £9m.
But trigger-happy Roman Abramovich might now use the international break as space to sack Sarri and bring in a new manager.
And it could well be a smart move for the Blues were they to ditch Sarri now.
Chelsea’s side has appeared in disarray for much of the season under the Italian manager – and they lost 2-0 at Everton today to pile more pressure on the boss.
After the match Sarri was asked what happened in the second half.
“I don’t know and the players don’t know what happened in the second half,” he said.
“I cannot explain it. We played the best first half in the season and we could have scored four or five and then suddenly we stopped playing.
“It’s very strange and we stopped to defend and counter attack.
“We were in control of the match and we played very well so we needed continue but we didn’t defend at the start of the second half. We changed the system but it was the same.
“The problem was mental on the pitch, so the system and the tactics are not important.
“It wasn’t about motivation because we started very well. We have to play eight matches now and we have to fight for our possibilities.”
A failure to get to grips with ‘Sarri-ball’ has come alongside an over reliance on Eden Hazard to provide the goals.
Sarri ditched Alvaro Morata in January and brought in Gonzalo Higuain in an effort to bolster the Blues’ attacking prowess.
But Higuain’s arrival has done little to transform this side which at times has looked rudderless this season.
Sarri himself has already admitted he is struggling to motivate his players.
And the Blues are in no position to sell half the squad and rebuild under Sarri now they have a transfer ban hanging over them.