Sources: Lampard could make interim Chelsea return

Chelsea are in talks with Frank Lampard to become the club’s interim head coach as they continue to search for a permanent successor to Graham Potter, sources have told ESPN.

The 44-year-old has emerged as a potential short-term solution to take charge until the end of the season as negotiations remain ongoing with a number of candidates over the Stamford Bridge vacancy.

Potter was sacked Sunday after less than seven months in charge and sources have told ESPN that the club initially identified five to seven individuals who could replace him.

The club have made contact with Julian Nagelsmann, sacked last month by Bayern Munich, and Luis Enrique, who flew to London on Wednesday for what sources describe as positive talks over the position.

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was also thought to be under consideration, but as of Tuesday no contact had been made with the 51-year-old.

The recruitment process is being led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, who informed Potter in face-to-face talks at the club’s Cobham training base that his contract would be terminated with unanimous backing of the board

Sources have told ESPN that Nagelsmann would ideally like to wait until the summer to make a decision on his next role.

Lampard’s availability — having been out of work since being sacked by Everton in January — gives Chelsea the flexibility to afford one of their preferred long-term candidates time to decide.

He managed Chelsea for 18 months prior to Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as head coach in 2021 and is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, having netted 211 times from 649 appearances.

Bruno Saltor, a coach under Potter with no managerial experience, took charge of Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Liverpool. Lampard was in attendance.

ESPN’s Rodrigo Faez contributed to this story.