The former Tottenham player has been jobless since being fired by Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of last year.
Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino are still in talks for the position of manager, but the club hasn't ruled out other candidates, according to the PA news agency.
According to a source, rumors that the Argentinian's hiring is imminent are "running ahead of reality" and the club is not yet prepared to make an offer.
After a three-week search conducted by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the former Tottenham manager is said to be the preferred option.
Pochettino spent Monday in negotiations that have advanced to an advanced stage, but other options remain on the table should the parties fail to reach an agreement, as happened last week with former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann. Pochettino has been jobless since being fired by Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
As a result of his dissatisfaction with the club's pursuit of other managers, Nagelsmann withdrew from consideration. According to a source, the German expected "a coronation rather than a process," but Chelsea had their own reasons for doubting his appropriateness.
As the club searches for a long-term replacement for Graham Potter, who was fired on April 2 after just 31 games into a five-year deal, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has also been a candidate.
According to PA, a third, unidentified contender is still in the running. Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Celtic, has reportedly been identified in certain stories, however sources have not confirmed this.
If an agreement is soon made with Pochettino or another contender, it may raise questions about the immediate future of interim manager Frank Lampard.
Despite having a contract that runs until the end of the current campaign, Lampard has lost every game he has coached, including losses to Wolves and Brighton in the Premier League and Real Madrid in both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal.
It is unknown if a replacement would be required to start working immediately or after the season is
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