According to reports, Chelsea expects to appoint a new head coach next week as their stance on a high-profile mystery candidate has emerged.
The Blues made the shock decision to part ways with earlier this week.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss endured a difficult debut season at Stamford Bridge as his youthful squad were punished for their inconsistency at times.
But reached the Carabao Cup final and finished the Premier League season superbly as they finished sixth in the table to qualify for the Europa League.
Under Pochettino, the signs were positive heading into next season. Still, their board have opted to look elsewhere as the Argentinian was dismissed following an end-of-season meeting involving the head coach and key decision-makers.
Who will replace Pochettino at Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea s decision to move on from Pochettino has become even more baffling since the list of candidates to replace him emerged.
, but reporter Kaveh Solhekol has indicated that a high-profile mystery candidate is also under consideration.
He said: Chelsea expect to appoint a new head coach by the end of next week.
Leading candidates Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca and Kieran McKenna. A high-profile mystery name also under consideration. New head coach will sign a longer contract than two-year deal Mauricio Pochettino accepted last summer.
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has dropped a hint that ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is the unnamed candidate Chelsea are considering. They have explained the club s stance on appointing the respected Italian coach.
Telegraph Sport revealed on Thursday that Enzo Maresca, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank are on Chelsea’s four-man shortlist with the club making checks on all three candidates.
There has been no confirmation whether or not De Zerbi is officially the fourth unnamed coach on Chelsea’s shortlist. But it is understood the Italian has not yet been ruled out – even though, at this stage, he is considered by sources to be an outlier in the race to succeed Pochettino.
Unlike Leicester City’s Maresca, Ipswich Town’s McKenna and Brentford’s Frank, De Zerbi is a free agent after leaving Brighton by mutual consent at the end of the season.
