Chelsea news: Mauricio Pochettino looks to have become the firm favourite for the permanent managerial position at Stamford Bridge as Todd Boehly continues to search for Graham Potter's replacement
Pochettino has been without a job since he left PSG in July 2022 after winning the Ligue 1 title. There is still no agreement in place between Chelsea and Pochettino despite confidence being high that a deal can be struck between both parties, football.london understands.
Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali were spotted in Los Angeles ahead of a crucial meeting with Chelsea officials as they aim to make a final decision on a new manager in the next week. With that said football.london has rounded up all the latest news linking him to the role at SW6.
Todd Boehly given Mauricio Pochettino announcement timeline
Whilst confirmation is unlikely to come before Tuesday, that is not to say that contract terms could not be discussed behind the scenes. Frank Lampard will hope he can pick up his first win after returning to Chelsea as caretaker boss on Tuesday, but a permanent replacement for Potter seems to be getting closer to being announced.
Chelsea officials to meet in Los Angeles as job offer prepared
Mauricio Pochettino could be offered the Chelsea job by Saturday night as senior figures from the west London club are set to meet in Los Angeles to make a final decision on the head coach vacancy, according to The Times.
Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, the co-owners, have been determined to get this decision right after the failure of Potter’s tenure. Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have been leading the process, with support from Boehly and Eghbali.
A meeting has been scheduled for today (Saturday, April 29) in LA where they aim to reach a unanimous decision on the appointment before making a contractual offer. Pochettino is working without an agent and is representing himself in the talks.
He has held multiple discussions with the recruitment team, which have included advanced talks on his backroom staff and changes to the squad this summer.
Pochettino makes Chelsea demand
Pochettino wants assistant Jesus Perez and goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez with him at Chelsea if he is offered the job, according to The Daily Mail. The Argentine also would like his eldest son Sebastiano, who worked on his staff at Spurs and PSG.
He is also keen to bring Steve Hitchen, formerly chief scout at Tottenham, into the fray at Stamford Bridge.
Agreement latest
There is still no agreement in place between Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino despite confidence being high that a deal can be struck between both parties, football.london understands. Any deal for Pochettino to take over at Chelsea is likely to be at the end of the season, despite increasing pressure over the tenure of Frank Lampard after going winless in his first five fixtures.
Crucial talks held
football.london understands that Chelsea held very positive talks with Mauricio Pochettino and his entourage on Monday night regarding the vacant manager's position at Stamford Bridge. Monday evening proved highly significant in Chelsea's continued search for a new permanent head coach.
Major Pochettino to Chelsea update
Chelsea are closing in on appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, according to the Guardian.
The job is not yet believed to be confirmed as his but a series of positive talks have unequivocally placed the Argentine as the front-runner. If all goes to plan, confirmation of his arrival to be the permanent successor to Graham Potter could come soon.
Boehly pleased by fan reception
The reservations held regarding Mauricio Pochettino's links to Tottenham are said to be no longer prominent. According to Evening Standard, the Blues hierarchy have been encouraged by the reaction of their fanbase, with most broadly receptive to the Argentine joining.
Positive talks
Chelsea's talks with Mauricio Pochettino regarding the vacant head coach role have been positive, football.london understands.
The Argentine has been out of a job since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer, despite winning the French league title with the club the season before. Pochettino, who managed Tottenham for over five years between 2014 and 2019, has been linked with numerous roles since leaving PSG but is said to be waiting out for the right job to come his way.
football.london understands Chelsea and Pochettino have held talks recently over the vacant head coach role and they have been seen as positive by both parties. The club's board are huge admirers of Pochettino and his qualities, and even met with the former Spurs boss following the departure of Thomas Tuchel last year but ended up appointing Graham Potter instead.
Players' stance
Mauricio Pochettino seems to be edging closer to becoming the next permanent manager of Chelsea. The former Tottenham boss has now emerged as the frontrunner to take over at Stamford Bridge after Julian Nagelsmann pulled out of the running.
The Argentine has been unemployed since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer, despite guiding the French giants to the Ligue 1 title the season before. His name has been linked with the vacancy since Graham Potter was sacked on April 2, with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart conducting a thorough process.
And the possible appointment of the ex-Spurs boss has reportedly excited the Chelsea squad. According to The Telegraph, the players are said to be positive about his potential arrival in the summer.
Nagelsmann out gives Pochettino boost
Julian Nagelsmann withdrawing from the race to be Chelsea's next manager has handed Mauricio Pochettino a major boost.
According to the Telegraph, the chances of the Argentine becoming the head coach of the Blues ahead of the 2023/24 season could 'accelerate' with further talks planned in the coming days.
Why Chelsea want Pochettino
As per the Times, Mauricio Pochettino has a lot of admirers at Chelsea given his previous work in developing young players.
His time at London rivals Tottenham has presented some cause for concern, but his 'ability and pedigree' are said to outweigh those worries.
Pochettino on four-man shortlist
Mauricio Pochettino was joined by Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany and an unknown manager on Todd Boehly's four-man shortlist.
Nagelsmann is now out of the running which has given Pochettino an increased chance of being named as Graham Potter's successor in west London.
Pochettino contact
Chelsea have made a fresh approach for Mauricio Pochettino, as revealed by the Telegraph, with the former Tottenham boss potentially going back on a claim made in 2019 that he could never work for the fierce rivals of a club he previously was manager of.
Prior to the appointment of Graham Potter, Pochettino was interviewed by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali with the co-controlling owners left impressed by the Argentine.
Jobs he will not take
Pochettino has already been vocal about the type of job he won't take, even listing certain teams that he will never be in charge of. Before managing at Paris Saint-Germain and during his time in North London, the Argentine said: "I am so clear. I am never going to be manager of Barcelona or Arsenal because I am so identified with Tottenham and Espanyol. It’s not down to me. Always I work like I want to be here for the rest of my life. That is my responsibility, how I take my job.
"The way I work is like thinking I’m going to stay forever in the same club. It’s the best way to commit to your job. But I am realistic and today you look in England from the beginning of the season and today in six, seven months, there are many changes on the Premier League benches.
"Then it’s not only you. It’s about the results, the ideas, it’s the chairman, he can change, the chairman and say 'come on, out'."
In another interview he has also said, "Football is timing. It's the moments for it to coincide and for that marriage to happen. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing. I don't believe that trains pass just once."
Mauricio Pochettino has three 'difficult' Chelsea demands for Todd Boehly as key talks are held
Chelsea have their own Bukayo Saka and Arteta blueprint Frank Lampard must use for revenge