Chelsea face a major managerial decision in the next few days after confirming the sacking of Graham Potter. The Blues lost to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday with the result being the final straw in the patience of co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
The top target to replace Potter is Julian Nagelsmann, football.london understands. Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino have both been linked with the job at Stamford Bridge, but the former Bayern Munich boss is the primary target.
The club statement released on Sunday read: "Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club. Graham has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition. In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter-final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid. Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future."
READ MORE: Graham Potter refuses 'Didier Drogba or Diego Costa' transfer demand as Chelsea future uncertain
Chelsea also confirmed that Bruno Saltor will take charge of the team as interim head coach, but the Blues are expected to appoint a permanent manager before the end of the 2022/23 season. So, with that said, football.london has rounded up all the possible managers who could take charge in west London.
Julian Nagelsmann
Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is firmly in the frame to replace Potter at Chelsea. Despite only being sacked by Bayern on March 24, which saw Thomas Tuchel appointed as his successor, Nagelsmann is the favourite.
Tottenham, having parted ways with Antonio Conte on March 26, were also interested in Nagelsmann, but the temporary confirmation of Cristian Stelling taking charge meant no decision imminent. While Potter was still in charge at Stamford Bridge, reports emerged Nagelsmann was appreciated by Chelsea, and with Potter now gone, Nagelsmann is the main target, as football.london have reported.
His departure from the German giants came as shock which left the 35-year-old wanting to take some time away from management. According to Bild, another club wanting to appoint Nagelsmann before the end of the season would also involve paying a fee to Bayern, despite these factors the young German coach tops Chelsea's replacement list.
Mauricio Pochettino
When pressure was high on the future of Graham Potter earlier in the year, former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was one of the favourites.
At the time reports emerged that Pochettino turned down approaches from the Blues, before an upturn in results saw pressure lessen on Potter. However, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali chose to act on the poor form of the club.
Tottenham have been linked with making a sensational return to appoint Pochettino back at the club that sacked him in 2019. The Chelsea job would be a great opportunity for Pochettino but the Argentine has seemingly already ruled himself out of any potential vacancy. "I am so clear. I am never going to be manager of Barcelona or Arsenal because I am so identified with Tottenham and Espanyol," he said in 2018. That claim also likely extends to Chelsea
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique is another name on the possible shortlist of replacements following his exit from the Spain national team at the end of 2022. The former Barcelona boss won eight major honours in under four years at Camp Nou but his recent job as manager of the Spain national team was not as successful.
With Antonio Conte also losing his job in London at Tottenham, Enrique was linked with the vacancy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Now, with the exit of Potter, Enrique could become an attractive option to those at Stamford Bridge.
Enrique previously stated his desire to manage in England in 2013, the Spaniard said: "I'd like to manage England at some point," he told FourFourTwo in 2013. "My wife wouldn't like the weather, she's from Barcelona and likes the sun. It would depend on the team and the football they played."
Just last week, Enrique revealed his latest stance on his next job: “I would like to try an experience in the Premier League. But I’d only accept an interesting project.
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