BARCELONA -- Former Chelsea defender Albert Ferrer has told ESPN FC that Luis Enrique would be a perfect fit should he end up replacing Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Speculation has surrounded Conte's future, but although he is not in immediate danger of being sacked despite recent defeats to Bournemouth and Watford he seems set to leave in the summer.
Luis Enrique, who won nine trophies in three seasons at Barcelona before leaving last summer, has emerged as one of the favourites to replace Conte, and reports in the Catalan press claim he has held talks.
Ferrer, who played alongside Luis Enrique at Barcelona in the mid-1990s, said: "Lucho's a different type of manager [to current Barca boss Ernesto Valverde].
"He had great years here with Barcelona and he'd already shown at Celta [Vigo] that he's a great manager.
"As a coach, he wants his teams to be aggressive, to be committed. I think he would fit in perfectly [at Chelsea], and there are already several Spanish players there."
Luis Enrique has coached in Italy but the majority of his managerial experience has come in Spain, where he spent his entire playing career.
However, Ferrer, who left Barca for Chelsea in 1998 and spent five years in London, does not think Luis Enrique would have any difficulty adjusting to the Premier League.
He added: "It's true that speaking English is important, above all to try and transmit your ideas, but Lucho has been learning [English].
"But I think above all the tone of how you transmit your ideas is more important, how you get through to the players, and there are many ways to do that.
"I think the adaption [from La Liga to the Premier League] is much easier than it was in the past, and in the case that Lucho goes to Chelsea I'm sure that he would be successful."
Ferrer, currently coach of the Barca Legends side that plays friendlies around the world, said he would also like the chance to manage in England in the future.
Since leaving Mallorca in 2015 after spells in charge of Dutch side Vitesse and Cordoba, whom he helped to promotion to La Liga, he has been waiting for his next opportunity.
"I am really happy with the Barca legends project right now but it's true that getting back into coaching is something which appeals to me," he said.
"Above all, if it was in England that would appeal to me even more. I had a couple of conversations with [English clubs] last season, but nothing came of them in the end.
"I have contacts in England, but at the moment I'm just waiting. Experience teaches you that things often happen when you don't chase them."