Premier League champions Chelsea have identified Luis Enrique as a possible replacement for manager Antonio Conte, according to the Telegraph.
The Blues are assessing their options in case their current manager chooses to quit the club, amid talk that the Italian has grown frustrated over the club’s lack of movement on the transfer front his summer.
Chelsea have yet to make any significant progress with moves for their preferred transfer targets, and Conte has been forced to watch as several of their rivals plough ahead with their own business.
Title rivals Manchester City, for example, have already completed two signings in attacker Bernardo Silva and goalkeeper Ederson, and Italian outlet Gazzette dello Sport claim that Conte is annoyed.
However, while the Telegraph report states that Chelsea have absolutely “no intention” of letting Conte sever his ties with the club, they have shortlisted Enrique as a potential successor.
Enrique is currently unemployed having quit his job as Barcelona manager at the end of the 2016-17 season, having led the Catalan giants to two La Liga titles and a Champions League crown.
The 47-year-old would be one of the more high-profile options available to Chelsea, although there would be no shortage of alternatives, should they and Conte go their separate ways in future.
Enrique revealed that he would be taking a short break from management when he announced his departure at Barcelona back in March, and it is unclear as to whether he would be ready to accept a return so soon.
In the meantime, however, Chelsea plan to end speculation regarding the future of their manager by handing Conte a new long-term contract worth a staggering £9.6million per year.