Julian Nagelsmann is the main contender to replace the sacked Graham Potter from Chelsea, who has already been contacted through intermediaries about the possible transfer of the German to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea sacked Graham Potter on Sunday after the club’s American owners finally lost faith in their first appointment as manager.
Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is among the contenders to replace Potter and it is understood that initial contact has already been made through intermediaries.
Chelsea may struggle to convince the 35-year-old to get a job so soon after he was sacked at Bayern 10 days ago, but Nagelsmann, who is also wanted by Tottenham to replace Antonio Conte, is considered by many to be the strongest at Stamford Bridge. candidate.
Mauricio Pochettino, who was in contention for the job after Thomas Tuchel’s sacking in September, is available.
But the fact that he was overlooked for his role as Chelsea eventually hired Potter might indicate that The Blues will explore other options first.
Julian Nagelsmann is the favorite to become the next Chelsea manager
The club, currently languishing in 11th place, has already been approached
Stamford Bridge owners have been contemplating Potter’s future for a number of weeks after a horrible season in the Premier League saw them languishing in mid-table.
While a number of influential figures behind the scenes have decided for some time that Potter is not the right man to take the club forward, others believe the former Brighton boss deserves more time to prove his credentials.
Recent victories against Leeds, Borussia Dortmund and Leicester have eased the pressure on Potter but the subsequent draw at home to Everton and Saturday’s loss to Aston Villa cost Potter his job.
Insiders told Sportsmail on Saturday night that Potter was in “big” trouble after the home defeat to Villa – but early indications were on Sunday morning that he was set to play against Liverpool.
Indeed, the club sent out a media notice on Sunday morning confirming that Potter would hold the pre-Liverpool press conference.
However, the sense that Potter was no longer the right man to lead Chelsea accelerated after talks on Sunday afternoon and he sacked him in a statement dropped at 8pm.
Potter was informed of the decision personally at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground.
It was a decision spearheaded by co-sports directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, with support from controlling owners Todd Bohle and Baghdad Eghbali.
Graham Potter was sacked after 12 wins from 31 games as Blues boss, with Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Aston Villa the final straw for Todd Bohle.
Todd Bohle (right) saw fit to separate from Potter and look for a new running boss
Winstanley and Stewart, supported by Buhle and Igbali, will now lead what Chelsea intends to be an “exhaustive” search for a replacement for Potter.
Meanwhile, Bruno Saltour, who has followed Potter to Chelsea from Brighton, has been appointed on a temporary assignment and is now tasked with captaining Chelsea who conclude a change must now be made in order to give them the best chance of salvaging something. out of season.
Villa’s defeat saw Chelsea fall to the bottom half of the table.
They have 10 matches left in the league and are still in the Champions League, with a quarter-final tie against Real Madrid.
Potter’s five-year contract, meanwhile, was worth around £12m a year, £60m in total, but he wouldn’t get the rest in full either.
Club co-owners Todd Bohle and Behdad Eghbali said: ‘On behalf of everyone at the club, we would like to sincerely thank Graham for his contribution to Chelsea.
We have the highest respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always acted with professionalism and integrity and we are all very disappointed in this outcome.
