NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is the fourth so-called “mystery” on Chelsea’s shortlist as they look towards a successor to Mauricio Pochettino.
The west London club broke tactics with the Argentine last week and began the procedure to find a replacement, with the number of candidates now reduced to just four.
Chelsea’s main target is said to be Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, who has one of the country’s most sought-after managers after back-to-back promotions while betting on brilliant attacking football.
Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, who propelled McKenna to the top of the league, is also in contention along with Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
A fourth, hitherto unknown coach had also been on the final list, with the hypothesis that it could simply be the departure of Barcelona coach Xavi or even Como head coach (and former Chelsea player) Cesc Fabregas.
But now, the Daily Mail has shown that the new candidate through Chelsea is De Zerbi, who broke tactics with Brighton by mutual agreement at the end of the season.
The Italian is believed to have been frustrated with the club’s investment and recruitment technique and even criticised chairman Tony Bloom after the club left the Europa League.
He would have charged interested parties around £12m to keep De Zerbi and his coaching staff away from Brighton while he was still under contract with the club, but he will now charge much less.
Although he has left the south coast club, if Italian Chelsea are his man, he will still have to pay a payment of around £5m.
De Zerbi had been linked to the AC Milan job, but the payment was deemed too expensive through the Serie A giants, who are expected to sign Paulo Fonseca.
It is believed that Chelsea’s hierarchy needs to bring in a young, forward-thinking and progressive coach, and De Zerbi would fit the bill.
Chelsea sporting administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart worked briefly with De Zerbi at Brighton before moving to Stamford Bridge, with the 44-year-old replacing Graham Potter after his own move to Chelsea.
De Zerbi has already worked with several Blues players, club record holder Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk, whom he coached at Shakhtar Donetsk.
McKenna is still considered Chelsea’s favorite option, although he also has an offer from Brighton while his representatives have spoken to Manchester United, who could step in if they share tactics with Erik ten Hag.
Put us in your feed