Reports from Germany suggest that Julian Nagelsmann is still interested in becoming the next Chelsea manager. The club has been in discussions with both Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique since sacking Graham Potter on Sunday, but have now appointed Frank Lampard as caretaker manager until the end of the season. This move allows Chelsea to prolong their search for a permanent manager, but it also leaves them open to losing potential targets such as Nagelsmann, who has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Tottenham since being sacked by Bayern Munich during the international break.
Despite this setback, Sky Germany reports that Nagelsmann’s initial discussions with Chelsea have been positive and that the 35-year-old sees a move to the Premier League as his next goal. Nagelsmann has been highly sought after in recent years due to his impressive record at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, where he led both clubs to Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, Lampard is expected to take training at Chelsea’s training ground on Thursday ahead of their Premier League clash at Wolves on Saturday. The 44-year-old, who was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021, will then lead the team for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid next Wednesday.
Lampard has been out of work since he was sacked by Everton in January. At the time of his departure, Everton had not registered a win in their last 10 matches in all competitions and were 19th in the Premier League. Chelsea currently sit 11th in the Premier League and 14 points behind Manchester United, who are fourth and have played one game less.
It remains to be seen whether Nagelsmann will still be available for Chelsea in the summer, but his interest in the job is a positive sign for the club. With Lampard now in charge, Chelsea will be hoping to finish the season strongly and secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, as well as progress in the Champions League. The appointment of a permanent manager will then be a top priority for the club in the summer.