Mauricio Pochettino close to becoming Chelsea's new manager

Pochettino has not been active since leaving PSG in July 2022. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan

Mauricio Pochettino is in final talks with Chelsea. to become permanent head coach of the club and the Argentine should follow to Stamford Bridge with his four-man brain trust.

Chelsea and Pochettino look forward to a quick agreement on the terms of his appointment with both parties welcomes the direction in which there were negotiations last week.

Barring any late hitches, Pochettino is expected to be named Graham Potter's permanent successor and allowed to bring at least four of his most trusted allies with him.

Pochettino is expected to join » Chelsea» by his esteemed assistant coach and head of fitness Jesús Pérez, first team coach Miguel D'Agostino, goalkeeping coach Tony Jiménez and son Sebastiano, a sports scientist.

Three of the four, Perez, D'Agostino and Jiménez, have worked with Pochettino throughout his managerial career at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, while Sebastiano has been with him in Spurs and in France.

Pérez is particularly influential in shaping Pochettino and will work closely with Chelsea's medical department to make sure the team is in top shape.

Interim manager Frank Lampard has questioned the fitness levels of some Chelsea players and Pochettino's impressive distances have been a feature of his work across all his clubs.

Chelsea have yet to confirm the status of Potter's old coaching staff. which remained after his dismissal, but Bruno Saltor and Bjorn Hamberg are expected to leave, and the expected arrival of Jimenez could lead to the departure of goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts.

Billy Reid left with Potter and Anthony Barry officially joined Bayern Munich last week, meaning Pochettino should have plenty of room to bring his staff. It remains to be seen if Kyle Macaulay, who joined the club as a recruiter alongside Potter, has a long-term future at Chelsea.

Explaining the relationship between Pochettino and his staff, Pérez once said: «He (Pochettino) is very close to us. He is a very unusual manager because I have had experience with others and they were different.

“If he is negotiating a new contract, then first our contract and then his contract. These things mean so much. He never puts himself first.»

Chelsea players are excited about the prospect of Pochettino taking charge, and the 51-year-old is believed to have been impressed by what he heard From him. so far co-owners controlling Todd Boli and Behdad Egbali.

Chelsea's process to appoint a new head coach was led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, but it is believed that Boli and Egbali will now take part in the final negotiations about hiring Pochettino.