Chelsea manager news LIVE: Blues close in on Mauricio Pochettino with Julian Nagelsmann out of frame | The Sun
CHELSEA are looking increasingly likely to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.
Todd Boehly is set to name his FIFTH boss of the season, as the Argentinian is hoping to land the Blues post this week.
The likes of Vincent Kompany and Ange Postecoglou have also been linked to the job.
Julian Nagelsmann reportedly withdrew from the running after concerns over the club's recruitment strategy.
CHELSEA VS BRENTFORD – BETTING TIPS AND BEST ODDS
Stay up to date with all the latest news from Stamford Bridge…
- Etienne Fermie
Chelsea 'to offer Lukaku lifeline'
Mauricio Pochettino is set to offer Romelu Lukaku a Chelsea lifeline, according to reports.
The Argentine, 51, looks on course to be Graham Potter's permanent replacement at Stamford Bridge and could even be appointed this week.
The ex-Tottenham and PSG boss has held talks with the West Londoners with negotiations progressing well.
And one of the key issues will be what to do with Lukaku.
The Telegraph state Chelsea are planning talks with the forward.
It is understood they will sit down to discuss the player's options and a return to the Blues first team has not been ruled out yet.
- Etienne Fermie
Mount likely out for season
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has confirmed that Mason Mount is likely to be out for the remainder of the season.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Lampard said: "Mason has been carrying this pelvic injury for a quite a while, it definitely predates myself by a while.
"'He’s been trying, typically, and the medical staff have been trying, but we’ve got to the stage now where he will have minor surgery and that will be probably a four-week recovery, and we all know where that gets us to."
Mount has been linked with a summer switch, with Liverpool believed to be especially keen.
Credit: Rex - Etienne Fermie
Gavi transfer plans confirmed
Chelsea transfer target Gavi has confirmed his future plans, according to reports.
And it is bad news for the Blues in their pursuit of the Spanish sensation.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also been monitoring the situation.
But Sport report Gavi sat down with Xavi and told them the Barcelona boss wants to stay put at the Nou Camp.
Xavi apparently reassured the youngster he "cannot imagine his midfield without Gavi" in their private conversation.
And despite ongoing issues with the contract saga, the midfielder is said to be fully committed to the cause.
- Etienne Fermie
Why Poch should choose Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino should choose Chelsea over former club Tottenham, according to Neil Warnock.
Speaking on talkSPORT about Spurs' capitulation against Newcastle, the veteran gaffer said: "I'm thinking, I've never seen anything like it. I couldn't believe it. No disrespect, but you can't put somebody like that [Stellini] in charge.
"I remember when [Antonio] Conte left and I said, 'You mark my words – you have a listen at what he said – that dressing room's gotta be decimated. Gotta be gutted'.
"I wouldn't envy anybody coming in there now. If Pochettino's got any sense he'd go to Chelsea [because] all they need is a centre-forward."
- Etienne Fermie
Ex-Blue blasts Van der Sar
Winston Bogarde has still not gotten over being ditched by Ajax last year.
The former Chelsea defender was let go by the Eredivisie giants following Erik ten Hag's departure for Manchester United.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: "I gave everything for the club and they threw me away.
"Of course I would like to return, Ajax is a great club, but as long as Van der Sar is here, don't call me."
- Alex Smith
Lampard: Season not over
Frank Lampard insists that Chelsea do have something to play for and the rest of the season will be a good test for his squad.
On motivation, he said: "I don't have a mentality that there is nothing to play for. They have been fortunate at Chelsea to have had that for 15, 20 years, but it's a reality when you have a long career, you won't compete every season.
"We now have seven games, three against the top four, so will be interesting to see how the players react."
- Alex Smith
Ferguson nears contract extension
Brighton ace Evan Ferguson is closing in on extending his contract at the club amid interest from Man Utd and Chelsea.
The 18-year-old wonderkid is enjoying a breakout year on the south coast and he has scored four Premier League goals this season.
Ferguson looks set to pen a deal that will keep him at Brighton until 2028.
The player reportedly wants to stay to ensure he gets regular first-team action.
- Alex Smith
Ferguson nears contract extension
Brighton ace Evan Ferguson is closing in on extending his contract at the club amid interest from Man Utd and Chelsea.
The 18-year-old wonderkid is enjoying a breakout year on the south coast and he has scored four Premier League goals this season.
Ferguson looks set to pen a deal that will keep him at Brighton until 2028.
The player reportedly wants to stay to ensure he gets regular first-team action.
- Alex Smith
Lampard no comment on Poch
Frank Lampard has been asked about the possibility of Mauricio Pochettino taking over at Chelsea next season.
The former midfielder said: "I'm not going to get involved, it's all speculation."
SunSport understand Lampard will stay in charge until the end of the campaign, on this he said: "I wouldn't expect anything in football, but we have come in to a club with big difficulties with not a lot of time.
"A lot of factors as to the four games I have been here, the team and club have been struggling for a while, we are here to help. Things won't change in a short time."
- Alex Smith
BREAKING: Double injury blow
Chelsea have been dealt a double injury blow in their season run-in after both Reece James and Mason Mount were sidelined.
Frank Lampard revealed the pair were likely to be out for the rest of the season.
However, the caretaker Blues boss hopes to have Mount back for the final game of the season.
Lampard explained the nature of injuries before revealing Mount would be having minor surgery, saying: "Reece had a hamstring injury.
"Mason has been carrying this pelvic injury for quite a while, so he's been trying, but we've got to a stage where he will have minor surgery. Probably a four-week recovery."
- Alex Smith
Mount offered to United
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been offered to Man Utd, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The Englishman could leave his boyhood club this summer with the club looking to trim their bloated squad and Mount is yet to agree a new deal with his expiring in 2024.
Man Utd are supposedly aware of his situation but Liverpool remains his most likely destination.
- Alex Smith
Lampard to talk to Pochettino
Frank Lampard is set to make himself available to Mauricio Pochettino in order to ensure a smooth transition for the club.
The Evening Standard claim that the pair are set to chat with both knowing now is a tough time for the club and the players.
Pochettino could be announced as boss this week but he won't take over until next season.
The Argentine's usual coaching staff that includes assistant Jesus Perez and his son Sebastiano as a sports scientist are expected to follow him to Chelsea.
- Alex Smith
Keeper swap
Chelsea are reportedly ready to send Kepa Arrizabalaga to Inter Milan so they can sign Andre Onana.
The goalkeeper, formally of Ajax, is valued at £35million.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Chelsea could look to offload some of their large squad to sweeten the deal and hand Inter a direct replacement for Onana.
Blues chief are set to meet with their Italian counterparts this week for talks.
- Alex Smith
Spurs don't want Poch
Tottenham will seemingly let Mauricio Pochettino join Chelsea as tey want to hire a less-experienced coach, claims reporter Guillem Balague.
Spurs supposedly want to find the next Poch rather than the man himself.
As for Chelsea, they supposedly deem him as having the perfect balance between young hunger and experience.
- Alex Smith
Sterling Effort
Raheem Sterling is to pay to put 14 poor students through university.
The Chelsea winger is offering scholarships to youngsters of black, African and Caribbean heritage to tackle the equality gap.
It comes after a study said fewer than five per cent of Brits starting degrees at the UK’s top 24 universities were black.
Dad-of-four Sterling, 28, said: “I hope this initiative will be a real game changer.”
- Alex Smith
Redknapp's Poch shock
Harry Redknapp has admitted he is surprised that Tottenham aren't set to bring Mauricio Pochettino back to the club.
The former manager is still loved in North London and with Spurs in a mess, now on their third manager of the season, Redknapp is surprised they have not enquired about the Chelsea-bound boss.
Redknapp said: "I thought Spurs would take Pochettino back. He'd have been my favourite, but you don't know. He'd have been a very popular manager but it looks like that won't happen."
- Alex Smith
Wonderkid to Chelsea?
Chelsea are reportedly lining up a move for the ‘new Gerrard Pique’.
But they face a battle with three Premier League rivals for the teen defender.
Luka Vuskovic is just 16 years old but is already starring for Croatian side Hajduk Split.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Vuskovic has already scored a goal in just five senior appearances.
And last week he helped Split’s U19s reach the Uefa Youth League final with an impressive display in the victory over AC Milan.
Vuskovic has already been likened to ex-Barcelona and Man Utd centre-back Pique due to his size and technical ability.
And the Mail claims Chelsea are leading the race to sign him in a £12million move this summer.
- Alex Smith
Sutton on Poch
Ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton believes Mauricio Pochettino can be the man to guide the Blues back up the table again, providing Todd Boehly lets him.
Sutton told the BBC: "I think it would make sense for Chelsea to go for Pochettino. The one question I'd be asking Boehly, if I was Pochettino, would be if he is staying out of the dressing room.
"Pochettino would want control and would not want that. Boehly has been too hands-on and if Pochettino goes in he wants it is his way. Chelsea is an attractive proposition."
- Kiro Evans
Auba and Out
Barcelona want Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back this summer, according to reports.
The striker has endured a miserable season at Stamford Bridge and has been largely been frozen out the team.
The 33-year-old did have a fantastic if brief spell at the Nou Camp last year and Sky Sports report that the Catalans are keen to get him back.
- Kiro Evans
Poch at Tottenham – In Numbers
Games – 293
Won – 159
Drawn – 62
Lost – 72Win percentage – 54 per cent
Prem (best performance) – 2nd in 2016-17
Champions League – Runners-up in 2018-19
FA Cup – Semi-Final in 2016-17 and 2017-18
League Cup – Runners-up in 2014-15 - Kiro Evans
Keeping Kompany
Vincent Kompany has told his backroom staff that he is staying at Turf Moor next season, writes Oscar Paul exclusively for SunSport.
The Belgian boss has been heavily linked with Tottenham and Chelsea.
But the ex-Manchester City skipper waves away questions over his future on Sunday when named Championship manager of the season.
SunSport understands he informed his coaching team that he wants to see the job through at Burnley.
Kompany can clinch the Championship title at rivals Blackburn tonight.
- Kiro Evans
Poch's Return
Mauricio Pochettino is set to return as head of an English club for the first time since November 2019.
The Argentine had been Spurs manager for five years and had managed to turn the club's fortunes around, culminating in the club reaching the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Poch became renowned for the attractive style of football he brought to Tottenham, with the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli flourishing under his leadership.
But try as he might, he could not bring a trophy home during his tenure. Spurs lost the European final in 2019 along with the League Cup final to Chelsea in 2015.
They also failed to catch Leicester in the 2015/16 season as they pursued their first league title since 1961.
- Anthony Chapman
Good morning Blues fans
Chelsea are on the verge of appointing Mauricio Pochettino as Graham Potter's successor.
Todd Boehly has held extensive talks with Pochettino about becoming the FIFTH manager since the American billionaire took over last summer.
And SunSport understands the Argentine is hopeful of getting his feet through the Stamford Bridge door this week.
One man who may not be at the Bridge next summer is on-loan Blues hitman Romelu Lukaku, who has revealed he wants to stay at Inter Milan.
The Belgium international said: “I have an excellent relationship with the fans and I’ve always tried to give everything for Inter because it gave me the opportunity to win two years ago.
“This club has allowed me to become who I am today.”
"When asked if he wants to stay at the San Siro, he added: “Yes, but guys you have to pay attention to those things. My goal is to give my best for Inter.”
- Chisanga Malata
Potential Kante exit
N'Golo Kante could soon be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, it's been claimed.
The France international recently returned to the starting XI following a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
But it's said the World Cup winner could be axed in order to help the club balance the books this since.
Although Football Insider claim "talks are ongoing between Chelsea and Kante" over a deal which will reduce his sky-high wages.
- Chisanga Malata
Lukaku gives update on Blues future
Romelu Lukaku has revealed he wants to extend his loan spell with Inter Milan.
The Belgium international said:“I have an excellent relationship with the fans and I’ve always tried to give everything for Inter because it gave me the opportunity to win two years ago.
“This club has allowed me to become who I am today.”
When asked if he wants to stay at the San Siro, he added: “Yes, but guys you have to pay attention to those things. My goal is to give my best for Inter.”
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