Julian Nagelsmann has met with Chelsea to discuss becoming their next manager, sources have confirmed to DEPREDICT.
Informal talks between Nagelsmann’s representatives and Chelsea had already been held in recent weeks as the Blues began to build up a shortlist of potential targets, which was initially an extensive list of names that has now being whittled down to a handful of viable candidates.
Chelsea directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, who are leading the search for Graham Potter’s successor, have now personally met with Nagelsmann to discuss his vision for the club and whether he would be a suitable fit for the Blues’ project.
Another top target, former Barcelona and Spain boss Luis Enrique, travelled to London earlier this month for talks with the Chelsea chiefs, and it was recently Nagelsmann’s turn to sell himself to the Premier League side.
Chelsea sources have confirmed to DEPREDICT that Nagelsmann and Enrique are still regarded as the leading candidates for the role. Importantly, those same sources insist there is no favourite as it stands.
Also on Chelsea’s shortlist are Mauricio Pochettino and Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, the latter of whom was considered when Thomas Tuchel was dismissed earlier this season, but Nagelsmann and Enrique appear to have stood out.
Having seen their maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge turn into a nightmare, Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are determined to make the right decision when it comes to their next manager and are prepared to oversee a lengthy, in-depth process to ensure the best-possible candidate is hired.
Among the questions posed to all the potential managers are demands over summer transfers and visions for some of the club’s young stars, including on-loan centre-back Levi Colwill, who has been earmarked for a role in Chelsea’s first team next season after an excellent loan spell with Brighton.
