Chelsea 'meet Nagelsmann for face-to-face talk' as they step up search for coach

Chelsea's hierarchy have reportedly met face-to-face with Julian Nagelsmann for talks as they step up their search for a new manager.

Nagelsmann was sacked as Bayern Munich boss last month after just under two years in the role and replaced by ex-Blues manager Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea are continuing to search for Graham Potter's permanent replacement after the Englishman was dismissed following a defeat to Aston Villa in April, with Frank Lampard re-appointed as interim boss until the end of the season.

And, according to Sky Sports, Nagelsmann - who is keen to manage in the Premier League - has spoken with the club after co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley flew to Germany at the end of last week.

Stewart and technical director Chris Vivell worked with the German while he was at RB Leipzig, with Nagelsmann impressing there before moving onto Bayern in the summer of 2021.

The 35-year-old is one of a number of candidates the club are looking at in a list that includes Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino, among others.

Stewart and Winstanley are leading the search for a new boss, but any final decision will have to be ratified by co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

The report goes onto state that key members of Chelsea's legal team have also spoken to Bayern's hierarchy to find out how much Nagelsmann would cost in compensation if they chose to appoint him.

Anthony Barry - the Chelsea coach who is currently wanted by Tuchel as part of his staff and is on gardening leave from the Blues - could prove to be useful makeweight in negotiations.

Former Barcelona boss Enrique is also a strong contender for the role and has spoken to the club.

The Spaniard held a video call with Chelsea's hierarchy just two days after Potter's sacking, and also travelled to London to meet with Boehly and Co. about the vacant position.

However, despite a dreadful start from club legend Lampard since returning to the role he held between 2019-2021, with three successive defeats, the club have no plans to cut short his time at interim boss.

After Saturday's defeat to Brighton, Chelsea are languishing in 11th place - a mammoth 35 points off top of the table Arsenal.

They remain in the Champions League in what is their last hope of silverware this season, but face a tough ask to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Real Madrid.

Having made his name at Hoffenheim, when he was appointed manager at the age of just 28, Nagelsmann helped the German side qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

He moved onto RB Leipzig in 2019 and spent two years there before joining Bayern, until his tenure with the Bavarians ended last month.