Chelsea are reportedly reluctant to appoint an interim manager midway through the campaign, giving Frank Lampard until the end of the season to turn things around.
Club legend Lampard is under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge on the back of five defeats in Chelsea's last eight Premier League matches.
The 42-year-old, in just his second managerial job following a spell with Derby County, is the bookmakers' current favourite to be the next top-flight boss sacked.
According to The Independent, however, Chelsea do not want to deal with the short-term issues that come with the appointment of an interim boss.
It is claimed that the Blues will instead wait until the summer before deciding whether to replace Lampard, with RB Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann considered to be their preferred long-term choice.
