Chelsea have reportedly ditched Luis Enrique from their managerial shortlist, handing Tottenham a clear path to appoint the Spaniard if they wish to do so. Enrique has been linked with both Premier League clubs during their thorough search for new managers.
Enrique has been out of work since quitting as Spain boss following the country’s early exit from the World Cup. Chelsea and Spurs had apparently earmarked the 52-year-old as a possible choice to appoint as head coach.
However, Chelsea have now apparently removed the former Barcelona head coach from their list of favoured candidates. Enrique is now apparently rated as an ‘outsider’ for the Stamford Bridge vacancy, alongside Sporting Lisbon’s Reuben Amorim.
Enrique had supposedly flown to London two weeks ago to hold talks with the Blues. But the West Londoners currently have no plans to speak with Enrique again and apparently prefer other candidates, including Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino.
According to the Telegraph, the path has now been opened for Spurs to have a clear run at Enrique. The North Londoners remain without a manager after sacking Antonio Conte in March.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has faced the struggle of recruiting from the same market as Chelsea. Levy might now be able to breathe a sigh of relief after learning that Spurs’s London neighbours have seemingly decided to ditch their pursuit of Enrique.
Reports in the Spanish press earlier this week claimed Enrique had been ready to take over immediately if Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali favoured an appointment. However, after sacking Graham Potter, they instead decided to hand the job to club legend and former head coach Frank Lampard on an interim basis.
Reports in the Spanish press earlier this week claimed Enrique had been ready to take over immediately if Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali favoured an appointment. However, after sacking Graham Potter, they instead decided to hand the job to club legend and former head coach Frank Lampard on an interim basis.
However, the need for a new manager has grown ever more important after Lampard lost each of his first four games since his return. Among those were two Champions League defeats by Real Madrid, in addition to Premier League reverses against Wolves and Brighton.
The report adds that the Blues prefer Nagelsmann and former Spurs manager Pochettino. Nagelsmann apparently left Stamford Bridge chiefs impressed during his first interview but ‘insiders’ are supposedly insisting that the German is not emerging as the favourite choice, despite being billed as an obvious successor to Potter.
Spurs have apparently ‘made moves’ to contact Enrique knowing that their path to appointing the former defender could be clear. However, Levy has reportedly harboured doubts over the coach’s lack of Premier League experience.
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