Luis Enrique a frontrunner for Chelsea vacancy, club want new coach for Real Madrid tie – Paper Round
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Updated 04/04/2023 at 07:47 GMT
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Chelsea’s search for a new head coach, with the club prepared to wait until the summer to make an appointment, the Guardian reports, although The Times say the Blues want a new boss in for the Champions League meeting with Real Madrid next week. Elsewhere, Graham Potter turns down Leicester in favour of a break until the summer.
Nagelsmann, Pochettino or Mourinho? Next Chelsea manager runners and riders
Chelsea keen on Luis Enrique
Former Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has emerged as a frontrunner for the vacant Chelsea role, The Sun reports. With Julian Nagelsmann on gardening leave after being sacked by Bayern Munich, Chelsea would require permission from the German club to speak with the man the Bavarian side parted ways with, and with a potential Champions League semi-final showdown in the offing, that may not be forthcoming.
“Enrique has a number of admirers among the Stamford Bridge hierarchy,” The Sun writes.
“And he enjoyed most of his success at Barca, where he led an expensively-assembled squad to unprecedented success, as he will be required to do at Chelsea.”
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Soon or the summer?
While The Times say Chelsea want a new head coach in before their match against Real Madrid next week, the Guardian claims that the club are prepared to wait until the summer given Nagelsmann tops their five-man wishlist – which also includes Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino, Ruben Amorim and Oliver Glasner.
The Guardian writes: “Chelsea’s co-owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, want the search to be as exhaustive as possible. Responsibility has been handed to the sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, who will assess a number of candidates. Nagelsmann is the early favourite but the former Bayern Munich manager is not certain to land the job.
“The feeling is that Chelsea were too quick to act when they appointed Potter, who proved an unsuitable fit. Boehly and Eghbali led that process, with their sporting structure yet to take shape, and Pochettino was the only other candidate interviewed. More due diligence will be undertaken.”
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Potter snubs Leicester for a break
Graham Potter has turned down the opportunity to manage Leicester as he would like a break after his Chelsea sacking, the Standard reports. With Potter and Brendan Rodgers losing their jobs on the same day, the former was quickly linked with a move to Leicester, but he would prefer to wait until the summer before considering his next move.
“An unattractive early option to return to a club in a relegation battle was also a likely reason for the former Brighton coach to say no,” the Standard writes.
“The episode is a curious one given Potter and Rodgers share the same agent. Rafael Benitez is the favourite to be appointed at the King Power Stadium after reports in Spain highlighted his interest.”
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Chelsea want Hojlund
Chelsea are interested in £60m-rated Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, the Mail reports. Chelsea are looking to bolster their forward options this summer after failing to address this position during their initial rebuild under the new owners.
“Word has it that Chelsea invited Atalanta chairman Antonio Percassi to their recent Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge and Hojlund's availability was among the topics of conversation,” the Mail writes.
“Atalanta want £60m for the 20-year-old, who has scored five goals in his two starts for Denmark and is shaping up to be a huge star. United are well aware of him, as are title-chasing Arsenal.”
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