Chelsea are in talks with Julian Nagelsmann over becoming their new permanent manager, according to a report.
The 35-year-old's time with Bayern Munich ended last month as they sacked him and replaced him with former Blues' boss Thomas Tuchel. The Sunday Times claim that the first in-person talks took place between the Bavarian and the Stamford Bridge hierarchy on Thursday and he joins former Spain boss Luis Enrique in having held such discussions, with the Spaniard's taking place before Frank Lampard's appointment as caretaker manager.
Nagelsmann has been a top level coach ever since he was handed the reins at Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim at the tender age of 28 and he became the most expensive coach in history after Bayern agreed to pay his reported €25 million release clause just two years ago to take him from RB Leipzig after he'd guided them to a Champions League semi-final.
His expansive pressing style is one that could fit Chelsea well, who need a great motivator and man-manager to arrest the current super-funk that they find themselves in. There is also a Leipzig connection to factor in with current Chelsea co-sporting director Laurence Stewart and technical director Christopher Vivell having worked with Nagelsmann previously at the Red Bull-owned club.
The report also makes clear that Nagelsmann, and indeed Luis Enrique, are part of an expanded shortlist that includes the Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim, Napoli's all-conquering Luciano Spalletti and Mauricio Pochettino.
What's clear is that, whoever wins the race for the managerial hotseat at Stamford Bridge will have an almighty job on their hands to pick this team up from off the floor. Defeat at home to Brighton, in a match they led early on through Connor Gallagher, extended their winless run to six in all competitions, with five of those being in the Premier League.
Having spent a truly eye-watering sum of money in the last two transfer windows, even by the bloated standards of the Premier League, they should theoretically have all the pieces of the jigsaw and now need only to find the right candidate to put them all together.
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