Luiz Felipe Scolari gave Chelsea further encouragement yesterday in their search for a manager by saying that he is ready to move to a new country when his contract with Portugal expires at the end of the month.

The Brazilian is adamant that he will not make a decision on his future until his team have been eliminated from Euro 2008, but Chelsea's confidence that they will get their man will have increased on hearing that he is ready to move on.

Scolari, who has been Portugal coach since 2003, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Avram Grant after Carlo Ancelotti, the AC Milan coach, rejected the job eight days ago. Chelsea's failure to interview anyone else after also speaking to Luciano Spalletti, the AS Roma coach, last week suggests that they have identified the man they want as manager.

Chelsea's attitude to the appointment is so relaxed that Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, has been permitted to take a short holiday, although his Italian villa is well situated for him to be able to continue to negotiate with Milan over the transfers of Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko.

Chelsea believe that Scolari is a man of substance able to take on Sir Alex Ferguson on and off the pitch, contrasting with the deferential attitude Grant took towards the Manchester United manager, with his natural confidence illustrated by his willingness yesterday to name his starting XI for this evening's group A match in Geneva against the Czech Republic.

The 59-year-old has been less willing to discuss openly his plans for the future, although he has told friends that he would relish the opportunity to work with Roman Abramovich. There is also the not-so-small matter of remuneration, with Chelsea willing to pay him £7 million a year. His present salary is £2.4 million.

“I have a contract with the Portugese Football Federation,” Scolari said yesterday. “I will fulfil my contract to the end and then we will see what happens. For the atmosphere and the love of the people it will be difficult to leave, but I'm a professional. I have lived everywhere in the world and am ready to live in a different country.”

While Chelsea welcomed Scolari's comments, they will have been alarmed by the enthusiasm shown by Ricardo Carvalho in discussing the prospect of being reunited with José Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, who has made the Portugal centre back one of his top transfer targets since taking over at Inter Milan. Although emphasising that he has three years left on his contract, Carvalho said that he would love to work with Mourinho again, even conceding that the arrival of Scolari at Stamford Bridge would not alter his conviction.

After securing a new manager, Kenyon will turn his attention to convincing Carvalho, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech to stay at the club.

“I've heard a few comments about Inter, but I have a contract with Chelsea,” Carvalho said. “It's a club matter and I'm focused on playing with the national team, so we'll see. I would love to be coached by Mr Mourinho again. The majority of trophies I've won at club level were with Mr Mourinho, but now I'm on international duty. At Chelsea there's a new cycle and we'll see what happens.

“We're not allowed to speak about whether Scolari will leave or not, but it won't change my mind. I have a contract with Chelsea, I have to carry this contract on, but sometimes a new challenge is a good thing. We'll see what happens, but I'll have to speak with Kenyon after the tournament.”