Luis Enrique has become the new favourite to takeover at Chelsea after travelling to London. The Spaniard is set for talks with the club, football.london understands.
He is one of several candidates for the vacant managerial position after Graham Potter was sacked on Sunday. Alongside Julian Nagelsmannm, he is seen as the most likely to be the next permanent head coach at Stamford Bridge.
Bruno Saltor, Potter's assistant, is currently in caretaker charge and drew his first game 0-0 with Liverpool. He explained that it is his job to prepare the team in ancticipation of being the man in the dugout against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie next week.
"As it stands, I expect to go home and rest and focus on day-by-day and the owners," he said on Tuesday. "They know that the staff are going to be the most professional we can and we're going to try to represent this club as best we can. We know the standards here, we know the demand and that's what we try to do all the time."
Despite what is being labelled an extensive and thorough procedure to make the right appointment - one that was perhaps rushed in lieu of sacking Thomas Tuchel in September, replacing him with Potter within 48 hours, interviewing only Mauricio Pochettino otherwise - the Blues are still keen to find a new head coach for the trip to Santiago Bernabeau.
Now, with the latest developments with Enrique's movements in the capital, he has become the new bookmaker's favourite. At 10/11 he has overtaken previous top pick Nagelsmann, who is now at 11/8. Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “Luis Enrique is the new 10/11 odds-on favourite to be the next Chelsea manager, with the Spaniard’s odds being slashed from 15/8 overnight.
"He is followed by Julian Nagelsmann, whose odds have drifted to 11/8 from 7/10. Elsewhere, former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is a 12/1 outsider, with Ruben Amorim 14/1 and Zinedine Zidane 20/1.”
Nagelsmann is still believed to be in with a shout though as the Blues hold back off making a definitive decision just yet. The German coach is well viewed by co-sporting directors Christopher Vivell and Paul Winstanley, the two men leading this search.
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