Widespread reports in the Russian media have linked Dutch legend Rijkaard, a former Barcelona manager and Ajax and AC Milan player, with the vacant post. The current manager of the Brazilian national side, Dunga, has also been mentioned in connection with the position.
"We are, it goes without saying, looking for a new trainer, but neither Dunga nor Rijkaard are among the list of likely candidates," said the club's executive director, Roman Babayev.
Rijkaard reportedly turned down a $10 million-a-year offer to manage Spartak Moscow in August.
Gazzayev, the only Russian trainer to lift a major European club trophy, stated in the summer that he would leave CSKA at the end of the season, citing tiredness. However, the side were going through a bad patch at the time, and after Gazzayev's announcement made exceptional progress, finishing second in the domestic league and earning a 2009/10 Champions League group place. They also won all six of their UEFA Cup matches, and it was widely believed that the trainer would change his mind and stay on. However, he could not be persuaded to stay on.
Babayev also denied rumors that the club would seek to bring back Brazilian striker Jo on loan from English Premier League side Manchester City.
It was earlier reported that Chelsea would attempt to bring CSKA's prolific striker Vagner Love to the club. Love, who scored 28 goals in 32 games this year, including eight in six UEFA Cup matches, has said that he is ready "to move on."
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is friends with the CSKA president, Yevgeny Giner, and his former oil company sponsored the ex-Red Army team when they lifted the UEFA Cup in 2005. Despite these ties, CSKA may not agree to loan out the 24-year-old player and could insist that Chelsea buy Love outright. Everton sought to take Love on loan last summer but the Moscow club rejected the offer, reportedly saying they wanted at least $20 million for the striker.
