Brentford head coach Thomas Frank is reportedly a contender to take over at Chelsea if Graham Potter is given the boot.
The Blues' hierarchy are continuing to stick by Potter despite their side's dreadful run of form, which has seen them win just three of their last 17 matches in all tournaments.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly committed to a long-term project when he hired Potter to take over from Thomas Tuchel, awarding the Englishman a contract until 2027.
However, calls for Potter to be sacked are growing increasingly louder since Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, which leaves Chelsea fighting for a top-half finish as they lie 10th in the table.
Potter is not thought to be in any immediate danger of losing his job, but results against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund in his next two games could prove pivotal to his future in the hotseat.
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Should the Chelsea board feel the need to pull the trigger, Football Insider claims that Brentford head coach Frank is admired by the powers-that-be following his remarkable feats with Brentford.
The 49-year-old - who has been in charge of the Bees since October 2018 - led his side to the Premier League for the first time in 2021, and he engineered a 2-0 success over Arsenal in their first-ever game in the competition.
Establishing Brentford as a fully-fledged Premier League side, Frank led the capital club to a 13th-placed finish in the 2021-22 season, and they are outside contenders for a European spot this time around - sitting ninth and just one point worse off than seventh-placed Liverpool.
The report claims that Frank has showcased numerous qualities which appease the Chelsea board, namely his style of play and ability to develop young players into Premier League-level performers.
The Dane's relationship with the press is supposedly another factor that works in his favour, and he is near the top of Chelsea's list for possible Potter replacements if push comes to shove.
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Frank boasts a record of 99 wins, 50 draws and 68 defeats from his 217 games in charge of Brentford, who have the former Brondby head coach under contract until 2027 too.
While Boehly is still determined to give Potter time to put his long-term plan into action, other members of the Chelsea hierarchy supposedly do not share his optimism that their form will improve under the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion manager.
A number of replacements have been touted in recent weeks, and Mauricio Pochettino is already said to have turned down the chance to succeed Potter at Stamford Bridge, having felt that the Blues project is not the right one for him.
Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner and former Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique have also been linked with the role, while Jose Mourinho is said to be open to a sensational third spell in charge amid uncertainty over his future with Roma.
Chelsea - who have lost their last three games in all competitions without scoring a goal - host Leeds on Saturday before the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Dortmund, who lead 1-0 from the first leg, on March 7.
Ben Knapton
