Jason Cundy has warned Chelsea that if they part ways with Antonio Conte then finding a manager of a better level will be difficult.
Conte led Chelsea to the Premier League title last season and on Saturday guided the Blues to success in the FA Cup, seeing off Jose Mourinho's Manchester United.
However, the Italian has not seen eye to eye with Chelsea on transfer policy and has often bemoaned the lack of strength in depth in his squad.
He is widely expected to leave his role at Stamford Bridge, meaning Chelsea will be looking for a new manager.
But Cundy has issued a word of caution to Chelsea, warning that there are few managers available who are better than Conte.
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"You've got to try to find someone better than Conte and it's not an easy thing to do", Cundy said on Chelsea TV.
"The ones that most clubs would take are tied up and happy.
"So it's a very small, niche market – there are not many out there", he added.
Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is currently the favourite to become the next Chelsea manager, followed in the betting by Maurizio Sarri, Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers.
