Luis Enrique negotiating with Chelsea

Chelsea sacked Graham Potter on Sunday and have begun the search for a replacement. In Germany, some sources claim that former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann is the favourite to take over as manager of the Blues. However, the German coach is experiencing problems arranging his settlement pay with the Bavarian club and that has caused Chelsea, Real Madrid’s rival in the Champions League quarter finals, to consider other options. AS has learned that Luis Enrique is among the shortlist of candidates for the Chelsea job. For the past couple of days, the name of the former Spanish coach has been on the table of sports director Christopher Vivell.

Iván de la Peña, Luis Enrique’s assistant at Roma and now working as an agent (Gavi and Eric García are among his clients), has been negotiating with Chelsea on the Asturian coach’s behalf. Luis Enrique’s arrival at Stamford Bridge would certainly ramp up the allure of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter final clash with Chelsea on 12 April for his association with the Spanish giants.

Luis Enrique spent five seasons as a player with Real Madrid before moving over to the dark side to join Barca in 1996. He has repeatedly stated that he has no good memories of his time at the Bernabéu. In fact, he has always declared himself a Culé after having spent eight seasons at Barcelona as a player and three more as a coach. “For a Barça player the experience of being whistled at the Santiago Bernabéu is always gratifying,” he blurted out before facing his old club for the first time. If Luis Enrique is appointed Chelsea manager, the Champions League quarter final will take on a special significance and be taken as one more incentive and extra motivation - for both clubs.

Chelsea, however, is not the only English club who has noticed that Luis Enrique is available. He has also been linked to Tottenham following Antonio Conte’s sacking. The London club is still looking for a manager while, Italian Cristian Stellini acts as interim manager. The other club with which Luis Enrique has been linked is Manchester City, although in that case it would be to replace Guardiola if he decides not continue next season.

For the time being, coaching duties at Chelsea are being performed on an interim basis by Bruno Saltor. The Spaniard is the third manager to sit on the bench at Stamford Bridge after Thomas Tüchel and Graham Potter. If Luis Enrique is hired, the Asturian will become the Blues’ fourth coach in one season - unprecedented in the club’s history.