Chelsea were eager to bring in Ralf Rangnick as a long-term football director, it has been revealed.

Rangnick was approached by Chelsea ahead of Monday's dismissal of manager Frank Lampard.

Determined to find a German speaker in order to get the best out of expensive summer recruits Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, owner Roman Abramovich's first port of call was the highly-rated Rangnick, says the Athletic.

Despite being free, having left his position as head of sport at Red Bull last July, Rangnick turned the Blues down, however.

It's claimed that he wasn't happy with Chelsea's proposal of a contract only running until the end of the season, despite the Blues' plans to elevate him into a different role come the summer.