Just in: Chelsea shortlists Zidane, Pochettino, Potter as new manager after sacking Tuchel

Chelsea Football Club on Wednesday part company with manager Thomas Tuchel after the London team’s disappointing start in the season, which continued with a defeat in their European opener.

After the sacking of Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Zinedine Zidane were immediately put on the radar in the search of who becomes the Blues’ next manager.

Blues owner Todd Boehly wielded the axe for the first time since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge and is already plotting to replace the out-of-work German Tuche.

Just two wins from their first six games of the new season has resulted in Tuchel’s departure, with Tuesday’s shock 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League pulling down the curtain on his 21-month tenure.

Chelsea became European and world champions during the 49-year-old’s rollercoaster time in charge, but now the Blues’ task is to find a worthy successor and ensure that their £270m spending spree in the summer transfer window isn’t squandered, the Mirror reports Wednesday midday.

Chelsea chairmann Boehly is said to have three names on his shortlist, with the American tycoon keen on making an appointment as soon as possible ahead of their Premier League clash with fellow west Londoners Fulham on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino

Starting with the name on everyone’s lips, ex- Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino could make a sensational return to the Premier League with his former club’s’ rivals. Sacked by Paris Saint-Germain this summer, the Argentine is available and has remained open to a return to English football ever since Spurs parted ways with him in October 2019.

Pochettino would certainly make use of Chelsea’s highly-rated academy thanks to his ability to nurture young players, and he’d able to operate on a budget which he wasn’t afforded at Tottenham. There’s just one major sticking point; is Pochettino willing to sour his strong relationship with Spurs fans and would the Stamford Bridge faithful accept his cross-London ties?

Graham Potter

No longer as rogue of a shout as it would’ve been merely a matter of weeks ago, Brighton boss Potter is one of world football’s most coveted up-and-coming gaffers. Having made a name for himself manager Swedish side Ostersund before a one-season spell in charge of Swansea, the 46-year-old has been tipped by many for a ‘bigger’ job than his current role on the south coast.

Potter has worked wonders on a tight budget, consistently having to deal with the departure of his best players but recovering with in style thanks to the Seagulls’ savvy recruitment. With Boehly allegedly set to approach Potter’s current employers for talks, the question is how would the acclaimed English tactician get on in a completely different environment? Boehly is said to think it’s worth a shot.

Zinedine Zidane

From Brighton to the Bernabeu, French legend Zidane hasn’t been in the dugout since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021. The three-time Champions League-winning boss has only ever managed Los Blancos but been touted for just about every big job since uprooting the Spanish capital, with Sky Sports reporting Chelsea’s interest.

The PSG were expected to snap him up as Pochettino’s successor this summer but the Marseille-born icon eventually fell out of the running. He’s said to be eyeing the France national team job after the World Cup this winter, with Didier Deschamps ‘ position under threat. Boehly will hope that the allure of west London life will force Zidane to change his mind.