Chelsea Meets Julian Nagelsmann, Despite Also Holding Talks With Luis Enrique Over Vacant Managerial Role At The Club.

Chelsea have extended an invitation to Julian Nagelsmann despite holding talks with Luis Enrique.

The West London club, reportedly held face to face talks with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann as the Blues step up their search for a new permanent manager to replace Graham Potter.

Potter was sacked by Chelsea earlier this month after less than seven months in the job after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion to replace Thomas Tuchel.

He left the Blues languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League following a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa. 

Just four days later, former player and manager Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager until the end of the season while the club looks for a more permanent successor.

Since his return, Lampard has been in charge for three straight defeats to Wolves, Real Madrid and Brighton respectively.

Speaking after the disappointing 2-1 loss to Brighton last Saturday despite his team scoring first, Lampard was critical of the squad's fitness, stating: "At the minute, it has been mostly conversations and meetings than training pitch stuf."... He said.

"Training pitch stuff was all pretty walkthrough and low level because of the tiredness in the legs. It is more about speaking to the players individually. When we do get the chance to work, I think the team needs some physical work.

"I think that's important for us because at this level you have to be right on the limit and we are not on the limit right now. I think that can be a capacity thing with the players for whatever reason. It doesn't matter how we got there but it needs to be addressed now."

Nagelsmann, had been sacked by Bayern in March, and was immediately linked with the role along with the likes of former Spain and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, ex-PSG and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, and Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim.

Despite Chelsea's hierarchy holding discussions with prospective managers, they are not planning to cut Lampard's second reign short.

The sporting director Laurence Stewart and technical director Christopher Vivell had both worked closely with Nagelsmann while he was at RB Leipzig. Vivell also worked with Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim.

According to reports from Sky Sports, Stewart and director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley jetted off to Germany last week to speak with Nagelsmann about the vacancy at Stamford Bridge. The report adds that Chelsea have already spoken to Bayern about potential compensation due to the Bundesliga giants if they finally decides to appoint him.

Nagelsmann who is regarded as one of the game’s highly rated young manager, was in charge of Hoffenheim at just age 28 before moving to RB Lepizig, whom he led to the Champions League semi-finals.

He then joined Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2021, winning the league title in his first season alongside two German Supercups.

Apart from Chelsea, he has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur to replace Antonio Conte.