As we speed towards the end of the season the Premier League betting really heats up with all to play for in the outright, top-four and relegation markets. There’s also top-six and even match bets still to be decided and it’s not yet too late to back your opinions with hard cash and finish the campaign with profit in your pocket.

A few of the specials which may slip under the radar as the clamber for points becomes increasingly desperate are the various manager betting markets, but it is no less engrossing at this stage and could give backers an interest even after the fixture list has been brought to a conclusion.

With the next manager to be sacked option the clue is very much in the name. Punters are betting on the next Premier League manager to lose his job, joining an unfortunate list which already includes Claudio Ranieri at Fulham, Claude Puel with Leicester and Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho. It has been a tough term for managers at all levels of English football, lower league casualties Jos Luhukay, Gary Rowett and Aitor Karanka also finding themselves in a state of unemployment following a poor run of form.

Football is a result driven business and modern boards are not slow in pulling the trigger if their man is failing to deliver. Who will they turn their sights on next?

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is quoted in the next Premier League manager to leave their post and that bet includes those who are sacked, step-down, depart for another job or come to a mutual agreement with their employers. The Blues leader started life at Stamford Bridge well enough and remains in with a shout at finishing in the top-four, but the club have lost eight and drawn seven of their first 35 and that simply isn’t good enough for a support used to challenging for major titles, both domestically and on the continent.

A top-four finish and return to Champions League football will be considered an improvement for the Londoners and it’s likely Sarri will be given a little more time if he can achieve that but, at last count, he was a point better than fifth-placed Arsenal, The Gunners having a game in hand, and three better than Man Utd down in sixth.

Chelsea’s recent form has been far from convincing and they have lost to Manchester City in the League Cup final and Everton away in the Premier League recently. Pundits believe the ice beneath Sarri is already showing signs of cracking and bookmakers agree. The smoking Italian is thought to be operating on borrowed time and will, more than likely, finish the season in charge before being asked to clear out his desk in summer, making way for a new manager with fresh ideas to take the club forward. Rumours suggest the money men won’t trust him with another transfer kitty.

Keeping that in mind, and at this late stage of the season, the next manager to leave his post betting is replaced by the market to be next Chelsea manager, most likely the gaffer to sit in the dugout for the kick-off of the 2019/20 season in August.

If Sarri goes, who will replace him? Well, it’s all gossip and speculation at this stage, of course, but there’s plenty of value around for football punters to take advantage of. So, if you are willing to back your opinions with hard cash, you’ll get an attractive quote for your troubles. Plus, there is no shortage of betting promotions bookies offer on this market, ranging from risk-free bets to enhanced odds – check those out on bookmaker comparison sites like TBA or on your favourite betting site.

Traders have put forward their thinking for the short-term future of Chelsea and have pinned Diego Simeone to the top of their list. The 48-year-old Argentinian is one of the hottest properties in club football management at the minute and is on-course to lead his Atletico Madrid side to second in La Liga behind Barcelona. The former midfielder never played in England but when Chelsea come calling, people listen. 6/1 says he’ll be the next boss at Stamford Bridge.

Steve Holland rates as the main danger and he’s also a 6/1 shot with some bookies, although it’s interesting to see a respected firm has him as tight as 7/4, a price that would suggest he already has a foot in the door. The 48-year-old would rate as somewhat of a gamble for The Blues as he’s the assistant manager at England but does know the club inside-out, having served as assistant to Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, following the dismissal of previous boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Could Zola complete his Chelsea journey? The little Italian was a real fans’ favourite during his playing days, scoring 59 goals in 229 appearances between 1996 and 2003 before leaving and finishing his career at Cagliari. The 52-year-old doesn’t have the best reputation as a football manager following stints at West Ham, Watford and Birmingham, but he’s the current assistant to Sarri and is well-versed on what it takes to bring success to Chelsea. Worth considering at 10/1.