Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim won’t succeed Frank Lampard as Chelsea boss, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.

The trusted journalist claims that “talks did take place” with the 38-year-old and, despite being held in “high regard”, he has opted to remain with Sporting.

Amorim has an impressive 68% win ratio as a manager, a percentage that is much higher than any other candidate being considered, but the club’s search for a new head coach will now move on to other options.

Ornstein has also revealed that the shortlist has been narrowed down from “five to 10” to a “handful”, with no frontrunner having emerged at this stage.

From other reports, it is believed that the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, former Spain boss Luis Enrique and ex-Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino are the favourites to land the position. Further interviews and talks are expected to be held over the next few weeks before a final decision is made.