Chelsea in advanced talks with Mauricio Pochettino as next manager

• Troubled Premier League side Chelsea FC is still on the lookout for a permanent head coach
• The club fired Graham Potter earlier this month after a series of poor performances
• The club has turned to former PSG and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino with talks with the Argentine in an advanced position

Chelsea are still in talks with Mauricio Pochettino about becoming their new manager, but the club has not ruled out other options, according to the PA news agency.

Reports that the Argentine’s appointment is imminent were described as “running ahead of reality” by a source, and it is known that the club is not yet ready to make an offer.

However, following a three-week search conducted by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the former Tottenham manager is thought to be the preferred option.

Pochettino, who has been out of work since being fired by PSG last summer, spent Monday in advanced talks, but other options remain open if the parties fail to reach an agreement, as happened last week with former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Mauricio Pochettino is in contention to become the next Chelsea manager and is in advanced talks with the Premier League club after the sacking of Graham Potter. Pochettino formerly coached PSG and Tottenham Hotspur. | PHOTO: Telegraph |

READ; Chelsea special: The Blues to play Wrexham in USA, Anthony Barry joins Bayern Munich

Nagelsmann withdrew from consideration after becoming dissatisfied with the club’s pursuit of other coaches, with a source alleging the German desired “a coronation rather than a process,” despite Chelsea’s own due diligence leading them to doubt his fit.

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has also been considered as the club seeks a permanent replacement for Graham Potter, who was fired on April 2 after only 31 games into a five-year contract.

According to PA, a third, unnamed candidate is still in the running. According to some rumours, this is Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, however, sources have not confirmed this.

If a deal with Pochettino or another candidate is made shortly, current interim manager Frank Lampard’s position may be jeopardized.

ALSO READ: Thiago Silva warns Chelsea things could get worse

Lampard was appointed on a season-long contract, although he has lost all four games in charge, including Premier League losses to Wolves and Brighton, as well as both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.