Next Chelsea manager: Ex-Premier League boss emerges as shock favourite after Julian Nagelsmann update

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the shock favourite to become the next Chelsea manager after former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann reportedly dropped out of contention.

Pochettino is 1/4 with the bookmakers to take over at Stamford Bridge ahead of the start of next season after holding talks with the club this week.

The former Spurs boss has been out of work since leaving PSG last summer and has been linked with a move back to North London, with Tottenham also seeking a new manager before the start of next season.

Chelsea sacked Graham Potter earlier this month, and appointed former player and manager Frank Lampard on an interim basis in order to allow a more ‘exhaustive process’ to find their third permanent head coach in less than 12 months.

The Stamford Bridge club were also said to have held talks with Nagelsmann following his departure from Munich but he, along with Luis Enrique, are reported to be out of the running.

Nagelsmann, who rose to prominence with 1899 Hoffenheim as he took charge of his first game at the age of 29, was believed to be the club’s top candidate.

Pochettino has plenty of experience in the Premier League having taken charge of Southampton between January 2013 and May 2014 before joining Spurs.

He was in charge until November 2019 in North London, and took them to the League Cup and Champions League finals during his time with the club.

He has won the Premier League Manager of the Month four times but was sacked by Spurs after a poor start to the 2019-20 season.

Ex-Man City defender and Premier League winner Vincent Kompany, who has guided Burnley back into the Premier League in his first season at Turf Moor, is also on Chelsea’s shortlist.