Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has told Chelsea to forget about trying to make Massimiliano Allegri their new coach in the summer.
Allegri has become one of the favourites for the post after Chelsea missed out on their first choice target Pep Guardiola to Manchester City.
Diego Simeone is also high up on the wish-list, but the Argentine is going to take some convincing to leave Atletico Madrid. The La Liga club's president Enrique Cerezo has also insisted he is going nowhere.
That has put Allegri, who has 16 months left on his current deal at Juventus, even further in the frame at Stamford Bridge.
But Marotta said: "We have a great rapport with Allegri. Contracts are not as important as the relationships between people.
"With Allegri, the conditions are all there to continue. The team is doing well and improving a great deal. Now the crucial moment of the season is coming up, so we should focus on that.
“I believe that in a corporate structure such as ours the role of coach is of very high importance, so I am opposed to having a coach who is set to leave the club.”
Allegri impressed in his first season at Juventus last term by leading them to the Italian League and Cup Double. He also took the side to the Champions League Final, which they lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
Despite a poor start this term, the 48-year-old is still on course to win a second successive title after a run of 14 straight wins lifted Juventus to within two points of leaders Napoli.
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Allegri, who has admitted he is learning English, is not the only Italian Chelsea are looking at with Antonio Conte, who is in charge of the national side, also in contention.
Marotta believes Conte is a more realistic option for the Blues because his contract with Italy runs out after Euro 2016.
He added: “I know both Conte and Allegri and they are top coaches. However, Allegri already has a team and would think a lot before leaving Juventus.
“While Conte is having an important experience with the national team I can’t say for sure that it will continue.”
