Chelsea told to target 2026 World Cup manager as contact made with Andoni Iraola

Chelsea should put Julian Nagelsmann on their managerial shortlist if he doesn’t win the World Cup with Germany.

That’s according to former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the Blues launch their search for the latest appointment at Stamford Bridge.

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After a run of five Premier League defeats without scoring, Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior just four months after handing him the job.

Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge for a second time and oversaw their 1-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Andoni Iraola is a leading candidate for the vacancy, and talkSPORT understands Chelsea have spoken to his agent.

Fulham boss Marco Silva is also on the shortlist, but ex-Arsenal man Lehmann believes Nagelsmann should be considered as a candidate.

The 38-year-old, formerly the head coach at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, is heading to the 2026 World Cup with Germany.

But if Die Mannschaft were to not win a fifth title, then they could be led to a change in the dugout.

“Do you see Nagelsmann being there after the World Cup?” Lehmann was asked by Paul Hawksbee on Hawksbee and Jacobs for talkSPORT.

“Well, if he performs not really well, I think he must be exchanged, that’s for sure, because we have a different expectation,” Lehmann responded.

“Chelsea were so unfortunate with their appointments of recent coaches. Yeah, they can try Nagelsmann.”

Nagelsmann is currently on a contract with the German national team that runs until Euro 2028.

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Who could take charge of Chelsea next?

Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, so it comes as little surprise that he is of interest to Chelsea.

The Spaniard is highly regarded by co-owner Behdad Eghbali, and is thought to have rejected the advances of Crystal Palace.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is also admired, while Fulham boss Marco Silva is also being considered at Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso is understood to be open to a move to the Premier League, although a return to Liverpool, who he played for for five years, seems unlikely this summer.

Nagelsmann was heavily linked with the job before Mauricio Pochettino was appointed in 2024 but pulled out of the running due to not being sold on the project.

Frank Lampard has been touted as another potential candidate after winning the Championship title at Coventry City.

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It would see him take charge at Chelsea for the third time, with his last spell ending in 2023.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also keeping tabs on former players Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis amid their success at Como and Flamengo respectively.

However, it remains to be seen whether they will be viewed as experienced enough for the role.

It’s also been suggested that Jose Mourinho could make a high-profile return to Stamford Bridge but talkSPORT understands that is unlikely with the Portuguese also linked with the Real Madrid and Portugal jobs.