Chelsea to hold talks with Luis Enrique while Lampard return considered

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. Chelsea, who play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final away to Real Madrid next Wednesday, are considering at least five coaches.

The early favourites are likely Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, who has flown to London after impressing in initial discussions. Luis Enrique is available after leaving the Spain job after their disappointing World Cup but has a strong pedigree. The 52-year-old won the treble with Barcelona in 2015 and favours a quick, attacking style, although Chelsea will ponder whether much of that Barça side’s success was owed to having Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar in attack.

It is understood Eghbali, whose voice carries significant weight, is a huge admirer of Nagelsmann. The 35-year-old is available after his sacking by Bayern Munich last month and is rated as one of