Chelsea will reportedly give consideration to holding further discussions with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.
The Blues are on the hunt for a new permanent head coach having made the decision to sack Graham Potter after just 31 matches in charge over the weekend.
As a result, Bruno Saltor, one of Potter's coaching staff, has taken the reins for Tuesday's key Premier League fixture against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
However, with Chelsea facing a Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid over the next two weeks, there is a need for clarity with regards to their approach going forward.
Recently-sacked Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the bookmakers' favourite, although it is unclear whether the German would prefer to take a break before accepting any new position.
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Other names such as Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino have been linked with a switch to the West Londoners, yet there is a perception that it is an open race with each of the candidates possessing notable pros and cons.
According to Football Insider, Amorim should not be discounted at this stage with the Portuguese having already spoken to the Chelsea hierarchy in the past.
Amorim held discussions before the appointment of Potter and is said to have suitably impressed the powers-that-be at the English giants.
The 38-year-old has recently enhanced his reputation in the Europa League as Sporting edged past current Premier League leaders Arsenal over two legs.
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Amorim also has a Primeira Liga title to his name, Sporting losing just one game in the 2020-21 campaign, and that achievement has kept him in the sights of many clubs across Europe.
At a time when Sporting sit 18 points adrift of leaders Benfica in the top flight for 2022-23, the summer may be deemed as the right moment to take on a new challenge.
Amorim has won as many as 102 of his 148 matches in charge of Sporting, suffering just 25 defeats, and such a return has seen him also linked with the vacant Tottenham Hotspur job.
Earlier this season, Amorim extended his contract at Sporting until 2026, although it is not clear whether a substantial release clause is present in that deal like it was included in his previous terms.
Darren Plant
