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Julian Nagelsmann is no longer in the running to become Chelsea’s new manager, the PA news agency understands.
The former Bayern Munich manager was not impressed with the club’s courtship of other managers and wanted a simpler appointment.
The club’s due diligence on the 35-year-old is understood to have come back “mixed to negative”, raising skepticism about his suitability as a permanent successor to Graham Potter.
He had not been the preferred candidate of the hierarchy during the search despite being one of the first names linked to the position after Potter’s removal, and talks between the parties have now ended for good.
It leaves Burnley manager Vincent Kompany and former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino as two of the three managers under consideration, with Kompany emerging as a surprise candidate on Friday.
PA understands that a third coach remains in the running, someone who is “respected and well-liked” but whose name has not been publicly linked to the position.
Former Manchester City captain Kompany is in his second management job at Turf Moor, following an unsuccessful spell at Anderlecht in Belgium, and has led the club to an immediate return to the Premier League. They will be crowned winners of the Sky Bet Championship with victory against QPR on Saturday.
Former Spain coach Luis Enrique, an early favorite for the job after impressing club officials in their first face-to-face meeting, dropped out of consideration last week. The club is understood to have been put off by the demands made by the 52-year-old.
PA understands that there is currently no favorite among the three and that the process, led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, is still ongoing.
Interim boss Frank Lampard, who has lost all four games since he was appointed two weeks ago, is expected to lead the team until the end of the season.
