Chelsea manager target holds talks with another Premier League club in move no-one saw coming

One of Chelsea's reported targets to become their next manager has held private talks with a different Premier League club.

The Blues are still searching for a permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month.

First-team coach Calum McFarlane has taken interim charge, but Chelsea will look elsewhere for their next appointment.

Andoni Iraola and Cesc Fabregas have both been heavily linked with the role, while Xabi Alonso is out of work after being sacked by Real Madrid and, crucially, is only on Los Blancos' wage bill until the end of the season.

Iraola, meanwhile, has already announced he will leave Bournemouth once the campaign concludes, while Fabregas is attempting to qualify Serie A side Como for next season's Champions League for what would be the first time in their history.

The Blues are in danger of missing out on European football altogether for next season, as they currently sit eighth.

That would no doubt make attracting an elite European manager to take over the club slightly more challenging - which is why they could look to a former player instead.

Flamengo boss Filipe Luis, who played for Chelsea between 2014 and 2015, has been linked with the soon-to-be vacant role at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks.

Former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender Filipe Luis is managing in Brazil with Flamengo (Image: Getty)

The former Atletico Madrid star would not be able to coach in the Premier League at present as he does not hold a UEFA Pro Licence, but A Critica, via Sport Witness, report that he has already begun work in obtaining one as quickly as possible.

Chelsea manager search takes fresh twist

According to talkSPORT, Crystal Palace have already held talks with Luis over replacing Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park, and he could be in the Eagles hotseat next season if they cannot secure their number one target Iraola.

Fabrizio Romano stated last month that Iraola is 'keen' on becoming Chelsea manager, though it is unclear as to where he stands now given the current crisis at Real Madrid and the firm expectation that their current head coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, will be sacked at the end of the season.

Iraola spent the vast majority of his playing career in his homeland with Athletic Bilbao, and he received seven caps for Spain.

He told The Guardian last year: "I'm very thankful because my family has been following me for the last, I don't know, lots of years.

"But you cannot ask them to live like this forever. There is a moment when I would like to put myself second and to think for my kids and the things they need."