With Maurizio Sarri under pressure, Chelsea could reportedly look at Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as a potential candidate to replace the Italian.
As per a report from the Daily Express, Chelsea could be set to join the race for Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino, as current manager Maurizio Sarri finds himself under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino is also a target for Manchester United and Real Madrid.
After masterminding a sensational start to the season with Chelsea, Sarri has overseen a slump in form in recent weeks. While the Blues have advanced to the Carabao Cup final and made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup, they find their UEFA Champions League qualifying spot under threat.
Back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth in the Premier League allowed the Gunners and Manchester United a sniff at making their way back in the top four.
The 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town will have eased the pressure on Chelsea and Sarri, but there remain concerns within the club. The report claims that Sarri had received texts from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich himself, to warn he could be sacked if he doesn’t deliver Champions League football.
And should that come to be, Chelsea have identified Pochettino as a possible candidate to take over from the Italian. The Argentine has done an excellent job at Tottenham and at Southampton previously, establishing himself as one of the most sought-after managers in the game currently.
Real Madrid have long been linked with a move for the 46-year-old. It is believed that club president Florentino Perez was keen on appointing Pochettino as the manager last summer, following Zinedine Zidane’s resignation, but couldn’t get the deal over the line and had to go with Julen Lopetegui instead.
Lopetegui has been sacked now, with Santiago Solari being named the manager. But the former Real Madrid player is unlikely to stay beyond the end of the season, with Pochettino once again emerging as a primary target for the club.
Manchester United too, have been credited with serious interest in the former Espanyol boss. He was believed to be the Red Devils’ first-choice to take over at the club after the Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December, but they instead chose to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the interim manager till the end of the season, deciding to make a permanent appointment in the summer.
Solskjaer has done a terrific job till date, having led Manchester United to nine wins in ten matches in-charge (1 draw) and has emerged as a strong contender for the full-time job. However, Pochettino remains a serious option for the 20-time English champions.
With Chelsea also now casting an eye towards the Argentine along with Real Madrid and Manchester United, the race for Pochettino’s signature is certainly set to spice up. It now remains to be seen if he still remains in-charge at Tottenham come next season.
