Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reportedly has just two matches to save his job as manager after the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.
The loss at Stamford Bridge was the Blues' sixth defeat in 11 league matches to start the defence of their Premier League title and left the champions 15th in the table just four points outside the relegation zone.
Mourinho claimed after the match that he was confident that he would be given time to change the club's fortunes despite reports that his dismissal was imminent, but ESPN claims that he has just two more matches to do so.
The website states that it has been told by club sources that Roman Abramovich's vote of confidence will extend only until the November international break, with former boss Carlo Ancelotti interested in taking over.
That report claims that the view within the club is that the break would give the club the optimum amount of time to adequately replace the Portuguese with minimum disruption.
It is thought that although Chelsea have not directly approached Ancelotti, the former Real Madrid manager has told his representatives that he is interested in taking the reigns at Stamford Bridge again, even if only until the end of the season.
Chelsea host Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday in a match that could leave them staring down the barrel of a European exit with defeat, before travelling to Stoke City next Saturday.