Chelsea ‘draw up three-man list of De Zerbi, Liverpool target and Champions League winner if Pochettino is sacked’
CHELSEA have a list of three managers in mind to replace Mauricio Pochettino if he is sacked, reports claim.
The former Tottenham boss’ future at Stamford Bridge remains in doubt after they were hammered 5-0 at Arsenal.
They sit ninth and face missing out on European football next season, which could ultimately seal Pochettino’s fate.
According to The Times, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy want to review Pochettino’s position in the summer.
It is believed his position is safe until then but already replacements are being drawn up.
The list is said to include Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Champions League winner Hansi Flick.
Amorim is on track to lead Lisbon to the league title and at one point was frontrunner to succeed at Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp leaves in the summer.
He has also held talks with West Ham about succeeding David Moyes at the London Stadium.
Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has since become leading candidate to take over from Klopp, who will end his eight years at Anfield this summer.
But prising De Zerbi out of Brighton would also come at a hefty cost while Flick is understood to see his future elsewhere.
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The former Bayern player won two Bundesliga titles and one Champions League trophy during his time in the Munich hotseat.
But he is yet to return to management since leaving his role as German national team manager in 2023.
Chelsea’s potential search for a new manager could be effected by competition in the market.
Bayern, Liverpool, Barcelona and AC Milan are all looking for new managers for next season.
Manchester United and Juventus could also join that hunt too.
Chelsea’s defeat in the London derby at the Emirates was their 11th of the season but Pochettino refused to point the finger at his players.
He said: “I cannot blame the players. We are showing this inconsistency, that is why we are where we are.
“When we have bad days, we are so bad. When we are good, we are capable of everything.
“That is another thing we need to be aware of, that we need to increase for the future.”
