Football News: Luis Enrique 'emerging as frontrunner for Chelsea job'

According to reports, Luis Enrique is the frontrunner to become Chelsea's next head coach.
Since Graham Potter was fired as Blues manager at the beginning of the month, there has been much conjecture about his replacement.

Frank Lampard has been named caretaker manager until the end of the season, but three consecutive defeats have practically put an end to any possibility of the club veteran remaining in the Stamford Bridge dugout on a permanent basis.

Lampard returned to the West Londoners to allow the club's administration to go through a rigorous process to discover the best long-term replacement for Potter.

According to reports in the days following Potter's departure, Luis Enrique was the first to make formal conversations with the Chelsea board, with the Spaniard going to London to do so.

In the 12 days afterwards, there appears to have been little additional interaction between the parties, with Chelsea also seeking to interview other potential candidates.

Former River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo is thought to be on Chelsea's shortlist, while ex-Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann is also on the list.

However, according to AS, Luis Enrique is presently regarded as the frontrunner to join the Premier League club.

While the article suggests that Nagelsmann is still in the running to replace Potter, the site thinks that Luis Enrique has the upper hand.

Chelsea believes that the former Barcelona manager may leverage his association with the Catalan giants and acquaintance with Gavi to entice the midfielder to join them in England.

Due to the club's continuous financial difficulties, Barcelona have yet to sign a professional deal with the academy graduate, creating a scenario in which the 18-year-old could theoretically depart Camp Nou on a free transfer.

Barcelona executives promised over the weekend that this would not be the case, but the La Liga leaders will need to make £177 million in sales and reductions before they can sign new players.

It was reported last week that Chelsea are willing to provide Gavi one of the most lucrative contracts in the Premier League to get him to leave his boyhood club.

For more Sports updates please follow us on Twitter