Frank Lampard is reportedly close to making a sensational return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s interim manager. The club is in search of a permanent replacement for Graham Potter and is currently holding discussions with Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann. 

However, Chelsea is looking for a more experienced interim manager than Bruno Saltor, who has been managing the club after Potter’s departure. Lampard is expected to fill this role and is set to be in the dugout for the upcoming match against Wolves if talks go smoothly.

According to Nextbet Chelsea’s co-controlling owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are committed to a thorough process in finding a long-term solution. They have tasked sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley with vetting candidates and do not want to rush their decision. The club is considering at least five coaches, including Nagelsmann, Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino, Oliver Glasner, and Rúben Amorim.

Enrique is available after leaving the Spain job following their disappointing World Cup performance. The 52-year-old has a strong pedigree, having won the treble with Barcelona in 2015. He favors a quick, attacking style of play, but Chelsea will need to consider whether much of Barça’s success was due to having Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar in attack.

Nagelsmann is rated as one of the best managers in Europe, but he has indicated a desire to wait until the summer before working again. He will want to know more about Chelsea’s project before making a decision. The club will also need to consider the history surrounding Nagelsmann’s exit from Bayern Munich, where the German club had concerns over his personality and habit of tinkering with tactics.

Pochettino, Glasner, and Amorim are also on Chelsea’s radar, with the former Tottenham manager being linked with a reunion with the London club. Tottenham is also targeting Nagelsmann as a potential replacement for Antonio Conte. Chelsea knows that they don’t have much time for making an appointment, as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain could also be searching for new managers this summer.

Lampard, who played for Chelsea for more than a decade, was sacked as the head coach in January 2021. He lasted 18 months in the role before being replaced by Thomas Tuchel. Despite his departure, Lampard is still highly regarded by Chelsea supporters, who consider him to be the club’s greatest player and most famous player in the betting world.

While Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge would undoubtedly excite Chelsea fans, the club’s owners are focused on finding a long-term solution. The appointment of an interim manager would allow them to take their time and make a considered decision about who should lead the club forward. Whether that person is Lampard or one of the other candidates remains to be seen, but Chelsea’s owners will undoubtedly be hoping to make the right choice for the club’s future success.