Luis Enrique is heading to London for talks with Chelsea having impressed Blues chiefs with his vision for the club.
The former Barcelona and Spain boss isn't thought to be on the verge of being appointed, but is instead seen as worth engaging in deeper discussions having successfully got across his ideas of how he would mould Chelsea's young squad and implement his approach.
The 52-year-old won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, and one of the attractions of appointing him now could be that he would be in place for this season's quarter-final against Real Madrid, the club he played for between 1991 and 1996.
He is thought to have impressed Chelsea when he's discussed vacancies with them in the past, and he could now jump to the head of the queue to replace Graham Potter having let it be known that he would like to manage in the Premier League.
Speaking to Cadena Ser radio last week, Enrique said: "I follow above all the Premier [League] because I would like to go to England to work.
"I wouldn't go to any team but to one that could do important things, which greatly reduces the number. I don't put my hopes up, really, because there are many candidates.
"I am lucky because my personal life fills me up. That it takes longer, that no offers arrive, well, it is what it is. I would go to a team with possibilities. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't work in Spain."
Interim boss Bruno Saltor oversaw Tuesday night's goalless draw with Liverpool, but the former Brighton defender didn't give any assurances that he would be at the club for any longer than that.
"It’s been really difficult for them because it’s not the first time they’ve been in this situation this season and as a player you invest a lot in the manager as well. There have been some great relationships created with the players and the players suffer," he said after the match.
"But Graham has been really supportive with them after leaving and you could see that on the pitch tonight. The boys gave everything and they fought.
"It's been really difficult for me to enjoy this experience, truly. It’s been really difficult, sad with disappointment, but I’ve just focused on being the best version of myself, trying to help the boys, be supportive and just focusing on hour after hour, day by day."
Chelsea, who are 11th in the table, go to Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday before their first leg in Madrid next Wednesday.
