Chelsea’s search for a new head coach since sacking Graham Potter earlier this month has been a top priority despite the appointment of former boss Frank Lampard as interim manager until the end of the season. Former Tottenham and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is available after leaving the Parc des Princes club summer.
Pochettino’s appointment as Chelsea manager is drawing nearer by the day as it has even been reported that during negotiations, details like Chelsea’s squad size and recruitment– as well as the make-up of Pochettino’s backroom staff he – have been discussed and he could be officially announced in the coming week. It is understood that interim boss Lampard is expected to be in charge until the end of the season.
Notably talks have been progressing positively in recent days between both parties although formalities have yet to be confirmed in and black and white.
It is no secret Chelsea have long been admirers of Pochettino and had even enquired about his availability when Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September.
51-year-old Pochettino has been out of work since departing Paris Saint-Germain in July 2022 and had twice rejected offers from Real Madrid, besides several offers in recent months from various European clubs.
Besides Pochettino, two other names have been shortlisted, namely Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and an unnamed third coach. Former Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann, sacked by Bayern last month, was ruled out despite having held talks with the club.
Apparently escalating friction between the two sides led to Chelsea officials being determined to carry out comprehensive due diligence on all of the candidates before making a final decision – with the German coach allegedly under the mistaken impression the job was his and thus resented the repeated interviews and continued requests for additional information.
Nagelsmann was also said to have harbored reservations over the role and sensed Chelsea’s varied shortlist was indicative of indecisiveness about the direction they were pursuing.
Former Manchester United captain and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville feels Pochettino is the right candidate to take over on a long-term basis at Stamford Bridge, considering the profile of players Chelsea have signed.
“Based on what [Chelsea co-owner Todd] Boehly has said, Chelsea have done their spending for the next three years – apart from signing a centre-forward,” Neville said on Monday Night Football earlier this month.
“If they appoint Zinedine Zidane, Luis Enrique or Diego Simeone, they’re going to want to have another £300m as they won’t like some of the players they’ve previously signed.
“They’ve got to appoint a manager who is going to inherit and like the squad that they’ve got – a lot of them are young – and I think that man is Mauricio Pochettino.”