Chelsea are preparing to hold talks with Luis Enrique, who is vying with Julian Nagelsmann for the manager’s job, but have not ruled out making Frank Lampard interim coach if they cannot convince one of their preferred options to take over before the summer.
Lampard attended Chelsea’s goalless draw with Liverpool on Tuesday and there is an outside chance of a return to his former club before Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
The 44-year-old, out of work since being sacked by Everton in January, is prepared to take the job on a short-term basis and would offer more experience than the current interim, Bruno Saltor, who was put in charge after Graham Potter’s departure on Sunday.
Chelsea’s co-controlling owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are committed to a thorough process. They have placed the sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, in charge of vetting candidates and do not want to rush their decision.