Pochettino to join the Blues, reports say

CHELSEA are on the verge of hiring Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager after agreeing terms with the former Paris Saint-Germain boss, according to reports yesterday.

Pochettino is reportedly set to join the Blues at the end of this season as he returns to the Premier League four years after his sacking by Tottenham Hotspur.

The Argentine will replace interim manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly bids to get his troubled club back on track after a dismal season.

Pochettino will be Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years after Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel last September and then axed Graham Potter in April.

Pochettino, who has also managed in the Premier League with Southampton, left PSG in July 2022 and was replaced by Christophe Galtier.

Pochettino guided Tottenham to the Uefa Champions League final in 2019 when they finished as runners-up to Liverpool.

He also led the north Londoners to a second-place finish in the Premier League in 2017 and the League Cup final in 2015, missing out on the silverware to Chelsea on both occasions.

Despite failing to end a Tottenham trophy drought that stretches back to 2008, Pochettino was widely admired by his players.

Following his Tottenham stint, the 51-year-old took over PSG in January 2021.

They finished second in Ligue 1 in 2022, winning the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, which were the first trophies of Pochettino’s managerial career.

Pochettino led PSG to the French title in his second season but departed after failing to make an impact in the Champions League.

He will arrive in west London to find a club in crisis.

Chelsea, who last won the title in 2017, are currently 11th in the Premier League.

They have won just one of their last 11 games and look set to miss out on European competition next season.

With three league games left, the Blues are in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1996.