Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the front-runner for the vacant Chelsea head coach role, football.london understands.
The Blues are currently searching for Graham Potter's permanent successor following the 47-year-old's departure at the start of the month. Bruno Saltor took charge of Chelsea for just one game – the goalless draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge – before club legend Frank Lampard was brought back to west London to lead the team for the remainder of the season.
Lampard's start to life back at Chelsea has been pretty disastrous, albeit in very difficult circumstances. The Blues have lost all four of the matches Lampard has taken charge of and have only scored one goal along the way.
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Chelsea are continuing their search for a permanent head coach but are not close to an appointment at the time of writing. However, Nagelsmann, who was sacked as Bayern Munich boss almost a month ago, has now emerged as the big favourite for the job.
The club have a shortlist of managers they would like to speak to about the vacant role before making a final decision. Chelsea have already held positive talks with Nagelsmann, football.london has been told, and are set for more dialogue in the coming weeks.
Another man who has been identified as a potential replacement for Potter is Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti. The 64-year-old Italian has his side flying in the Serie A, where they sit at the top of the table by 14 clear points, although his team were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League by AC Milan.
Spalletti is someone being looked at and Chelsea are set for talks with him over the role but Nagelsmann is the preferred option at the minute, it's understood. The German is seen as more tenable than other options given he is currently without a job.
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