Chelsea to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as Graham Potter's successor: report

Chelsea manager Graham Potter is coming under fire for poor form, with Mauricio Pochettino lined up as his replacement

Posted Thursday, January 12, 2023 by fourfourtwo.com

Chelsea want Mauricio Pochettino to replace Graham Potter, in an audacious managerial swoop that will no doubt upset rival fans at Tottenham.

That's according to one report that claims the Argentinian is the man that Todd Boehly wants next in the Stamford Bridge hot seat – and that despite his connection to London rivals Spurs, he would welcome an approach.

Pochettino apparently still has a property in London, despite leaving the capital in 2019, when he was sacked as manager of the Lilywhites, mere months after guiding them to a first-ever Champions League final.

The Sun(opens in new tab) claims that Chelsea's hierarchy are considering cutting ties with Potter just four months into his time as Blues boss after picking up just four wins in the league following his appointment.

Potter has had to deal with an injury-ravaged squad and is apparently being given time – though the pressure is on to deliver tangible improvement in the short-term. In Chelsea's FA Cup third-round defeat to Manchester City, away fans were chanting predecessor Thomas Tuchel's name.

Pochettino, meanwhile, has been out of the game ever since leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season. The 50-year-old picked up three trophies while managing the French giants and led them to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Coming back to England would mark a third stint in the Premier League, following time at Tottenham and Southampton. He has been consistently linked with Manchester United in the past, too.

Potter has compared his early struggles in west London(opens in new tab) to those of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He has also hinted that new signing Joao Felix could be in line to play against Fulham(opens in new tab) this week.

Chelsea are currently tenth in the Premier League.