MAURICIO POCHETTINO is hoping to land the Chelsea job this week.
And the ex-Tottenham boss believes he can transform the struggling Blues into Prem title contenders next season.
The Argentine, 51, is now in pole position to take over at Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Graham Potter.
Interim boss Frank Lampard will remain for tomorrow’s home clash with Brentford.
But Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has held extensive talks with Pochettino about becoming the FIFTH manager since the American billionaire took over last summer.
Pochettino is likely to bring long-serving assistants Jesus Perez, Toni Jiminez plus sports scientist son Sebastiano with him to the club.
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Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann – all currently without a job – have been interviewed for the job, but ex-Bayern Munich chief Nagelsmann is understood to have ruled himself out.
But Poch, who spent five years at Tottenham and has been out of work since leaving French giants Paris Saint-Germain last summer, continues to have strong links with London as he still lives in the city.
Some Tottenham fans will be angry if he takes over at their rivals.
But he has not received any approach from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
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Pochettino’s reputation of developing young players, forward-thinking coaching, attractive style of play and communication is an attractive option for Chelsea, who need someone to sort out a huge, talented squad – but needs trimming.
He took Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, but the strength of Chelsea’s squad and Boehly’s spending power could provide him with the foundations to win his first trophy in English football.
Lampard took charge of the Blues after they sacked Potter at the start of April, but has lost all four of his games in charge.
Pochettino managed Spurs for five years from 2014 and led them to the 2019 Champions League final, which they lost to Liverpool.
He was sacked by Tottenham in November 2019 after they made a disappointing start to the following campaign and were 14th in the Premier League at the time of his departure.
During his time with Spurs, he also guided them to the League Cup final in 2015 and a Premier League runners-up spot in 2016-17, with his side missing out on winning both to Chelsea.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
