Luis Enrique is ready to manage Chelsea after talks with chairman Todd Boehly – with Frank Lampard set to fill in until the end of the season.

The Spanish legend is back in his homeland after a day trip to London and a meeting with the Blues top brass after The Sun revealed Chelsea had made him their frontrunning candidate.

Former Spain and Barcelona boss Enrique planned to wait a few months until stepping back into coaching but interest from Chelsea has made him change his mind.

Lampard was, according to The Sun, being lined up as temporary boss and The Athletic report he has held talks over a short-term deal until the summer.

And the club hero could even be in the hot seat for Saturday’s clash with Wolves.

While it has also been reported that Ashley Cole and Joe Edwards could return to the Blues.

It is a significant development in the Premier League club’s search for a successor to sacked Graham Potter.

Enrique jetted into the capital with his adviser Ivan de la Pena for talks with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy and on his return joked with journalists.

He said: “I’ve come from Formentera, it is a beautiful island, like paradise. A wonderful island and I would advise everyone to go there.”

Enrique was clearly playing around and it is believed he is keen to take the job after successful talks.

He quit as manager of his national team following the World Cup last year and had planned to wait until the summer before stepping back into work.

Enrique is not the only man on Chelsea’s wish list however keen he seems.

Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is also among the frontrunners among five or six candidates.

Ex-Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino is also being spoken to.

Fulham’s Marco Silva is another but as he is already employed by a rival Premier League club it makes the situation far more tricky.