Chelsea are closing in on appointing Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s next permanent manager.
The Blues and Pochettino have entered into final negotiations over the terms of the Argentine’s anticipated appointment with the 51-year-old set to become the fourth manager of co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali’s term in charge.
Mail Sport reported on Friday that Pochettino is in pole position to replace current interim boss Frank Lampard ahead of next season after Julian Naglesmann, who was believed to be the first-choice candidate of senior members of the Blues hierarchy, dropped out of the race amid concerns over the recruitment process.
Plans to appoint the Argentine into the role have accelerated over the weekend and sources suggest a deal for Pochettino should be agreed in the coming days.
Pochettino is likely to bring long-serving assistants Jesus Perez and Toni Jiminez with him to Stamford Bridge, while there could also be a position for his sports-scientist son Sebastiano.
Chelsea are closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager
He would be the fourth manager at Chelsea under co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali (left) and Todd Boehly (right)
Pochettino would likely bring long-time assistants Jesus Perez (left) and Toni Jiminez with him
Perez, in particular, is known to play a key role within Pochettino’s set-up.
Unless there is an unexpected hitch, the current direction of travel is that Pochettino will become Lampard’s long-term successor.
The Blues have moved quickly to tie up a deal for the former Tottenham boss after missing out on the opportunity to appoint Naglesmann last week.
Pochettino and Naglesmann were the two outstanding candidates to become the club’s new full-time head coach.
Indeed, Pochettino held talks with the club’s American owners last year following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel but Boehly and Eghbali opted to appoint Graham Potter instead.
Pochettino has been out of work since last summer when he left Paris Saint-Germain.
He has been selective over which jobs he would consider during his break from the game and ideally wanted a club that would present him with a realistic opportunity of challenging for trophies.
Julian Nagelsmann pulled out of the running due to concerns over the recruitment process
Pochettino will have a big job on his hands as both interim manager Frank Lampard (left) and former boss Graham Potter (right) have both struggled this season in west London
Chelsea currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League following a miserable season
The strength of Chelsea’s squad, despite their problems this season, and the club’s spending power should provide Pochettino with the foundations to win his first trophy in English football.
The Argentine’s rich history with Tottenham, with whom he reached a Champions League final and came close to winning the Premier League, is not understood to be an issue for Pochettino with regards to the Chelsea job despite the intense rivalry between the two teams.
Pochettino is the preferred candidate for a number of players and a large section of supporters at Tottenham to become their next head coach but there has been no contact from Spurs with a view to appointing the South American as Antonio Conte’s full-time replacement.
source: dailymail.co.uk
