Managerial Race: Chelsea Target On Five-man Shortlist At Espanyol

Watford manager Javi Gracias is reportedly on a five-man shortlist of managers identified as a possible replacement for outgoing Espanyol boss Rubi.

Spanish tactician Javi Gracias has done a good job at Watford since his appointment midway into the last campaign.

He was appointed the Hornets manager in the wake of the dismissal of Marco Silva who’s now the Everton manager.

Javi Gracias led Watford to Premier League survival at the end of last season before leading the club to a comfortable 11th place at the end of the just concluded Premier League campaign.

Watford were in the top ten for the majority of the season before the 4-1 home loss to West Ham United on the final day of the campaign led to an 11th place finish while the Hammers usurped them to seal the 10th spot.

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Javi Gracias also led the Hornets to the FA Cup final before they were beaten 6-0 by Manchester City.

He has been linked with the managerial job at Chelsea with doubts over the future of current Blues boss Maurizio Sarri.

The Italian tactician barely survived the sack earlier in the season but he has been able to meet the Chelsea target for the season via the Europa League title and Champions League football for next season.

Sarri is the top favourite for the Juventus job as the Turin giants search for a new manager.

Apart from Gracias, Chelsea legend and current Derby County manager Frank Lampard has also been linked with the manager’s job at Stamford Bridge.