Yes, you read that right.
Just when you thought Chelsea’s season couldn’t get any stranger, they are on the verge of appointing Frank Lampard as their interim manager and, according to reports, have made a sensational attempt to open talks with recently-departed Tottenham boss Antonio Conte about the role longer term.
The Italian has been out of work for a fortnight, after agreeing to a mutual separation with Tottenham in the wake of a explosive press conference which left Daniel Levy and co. with little choice but to seek his resignation.
It was widely expected that he would return to Italy for the foreseeable future, having endured a tough year on and off the pitch this season.
However, the Independent report that ‘Chelsea [are] open to talks with Conte’ as they hunt out a new manager, with the Blues ‘at least curious to see what the Italian can bring, as the last manager to win the title at Chelsea.’
Conte lifted the Premier League title in 2017 with the Blues, along with an FA Cup during an impressive two year spell that saw him average over 2 points per game, far better than any coach has achieved in west London since.
He is by no means the only candidate, however, with Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique both thought to be high up on the list of desired names in the Stamford Bridge hotseat come the end of the season, while Sporting’s Ruben Amorim is also under consideration.
Enrique flew to London for preliminary interviews on Wednesday, and ‘is said to have greatly impressed – particularly with how he outlined his tactical vision for a 4-3-3′.
However, Chelsea wish to be thorough with their recruitment this time around following their failed appointment of Potter, and so the hunt for a new boss could drag on for some time.
