Chelsea hope sacking Graham Potter now gives them a head start on Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, as major European clubs gear up for a summer managerial merry-go-round.
Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino are leading contenders for the Chelsea job, but competition for elite-level managers is likely to be high ahead of next season.
Madrid and PSG could also be looking for a new head coach this summer, but Chelsea hope they can steal a march on their rivals by starting their search now.
The Blues do not have a permanent successor lined up to take over immediately and senior sources insist they will take their time to carry out a thorough search for their next boss.
Chelsea are yet to speak to any candidates, but they are expected to draw up a list of managers in the coming weeks.
Nagelsmann, who is out of work after being sacked by Bayern Munich last month, will be among the favourites to take over at Stamford Bridge.
The 35-year-old German is keen on the Chelsea job, but it is understood he would be keen to wait until the summer before deciding his next move, and it is not clear whether he will want a proper break before considering offers.
Pochettino was interviewed by Chelsea last year before they appointed Potter. The former Tottenham manager is also in the frame to take over at Real Madrid if they sack Carlo Ancelotti, which could scupper Chelsea and Spurs in their search for a new head coach.
Paris Saint-Germain are expected to sack Christophe Galtier, and could also rival Chelsea for their targets.
Other than Nagelsmann and Pochettino, former Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique is out of work and wants to work in England. Sporting manager Ruben Amorim could be considered by Chelsea, along with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Chelsea sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will lead the search for the new manager, supported by co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali. Winstanley and Stewart relieved Potter of his duties at 2.45pm on Sunday in a move that left players and staff stunned.
Players found out the news in a phone call with Winstanley and Stewart, as Chelsea confirmed the departure of Potter at 8.02pm.
Chelsea’s owners resisted calls for Potter to be dismissed in recent weeks, but Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa proved to be the final straw.
The result leaves Chelsea in the bottom half of the Premier League table, 12 points off the top four. Chelsea believe the decision to sack Potter gives them the best chance of salvaging their season, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid next week.
Potter’s assistant Billy Reid has also departed and Bruno Saltor, part of the backroom team, takes charge on an interim basis, starting tomorrow against Liverpool.
Potter signed a five-year contract when he replaced Thomas Tuchel in September and is set for what is being described as a “substantial’ payout, though it will be nothing close to the remaining £52million value of his contract.
