Chelsea make big call on 'next manager' as Blues weigh up sacking Mauricio Pochettino

Chelsea have reportedly made a decision on the profile of their next manager in case they decide to part company with Mauricio Pochettino, who is due to sit down with Blues co-owner Todd Boehly in the coming days for an end-of-season review.

Pochettino boosted his chances of staying in the Stamford Bridge hotseat by overseeing a run of five consecutive Premier League wins to close out the season. Having languished in the bottom half earlier this campaign, Chelsea ended up finishing a respectable sixth.

That will mean qualification for next season’s Europa League if Manchester City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final this weekend. However, Pochettino remains in the dark over his future.

And Chelsea chiefs are believed to be making plans behind the scenes in case the two parties decide to go their separate ways. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues have decided that any new coach would be a young up-and-comer.

Heading in that direction rather than sounding out an experienced operator will raise eyebrows given how difficult the Chelsea job has proved over the past few years. Extortionate transfer spending under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital has created a young squad which, up until the closing weeks of the season, had been low on confidence.

The Chelsea board’s preference for a young Pochettino replacement – if the Argentine is dismissed – is reflected in reports indicating that 38-year-old Kieran McKenna and 39-year-old Ruben Amorim are both top targets.

Contact has reportedly been made with the pair’s representatives ahead of Pochettino’s post-season review, in which the Chelsea boss could even decide to vacate his post if his vision doesn’t align with that of the boardroom.

McKenna’s stock is sky high after leading Ipswich Town to automatic promotion from the Championship. Manchester United are also interested, although Brighton are believed to be leading the race after calling time on Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure.

Amorim, meanwhile, has reportedly been on Chelsea’s radar since Graham Potter was manager. Liverpool kept a close eye on the Sporting boss before deciding to offer Arne Slot the job instead due to his preference for playing four at the back.

Despite the presence of a managerial shortlist at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino remaining in situ for at least another season remains a very real possibility, and Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer recently claimed he and his team-mates ‘love’ playing for the 52-year-old.