Chelsea

Julian Nagelsmann agent confirms rejected Chelsea approach

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 17 May 2023

Chelsea 'quickly' made contact with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann after the sacking of Graham Potter, according to the German's agent.

Volker Struth - the agent of Julian Nagelsmann - has claimed that the German was Chelsea's first-choice pick to replace Graham Potter.

In the space of a little over a week at the end of March and start of April, Nagelsmann was removed from his position at Bayern Munich and Potter was sacked by Chelsea.

Speculation naturally emerged that Nagelsmann was a top target for the Blues hierarchy, who moved to appoint Frank Lampard on a caretaker basis while they conducted a thorough process.

When Luis Enrique became an outsider for the position, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Nagelsmann would become the preferred candidate for Chelsea's owners.

Instead, the 35-year-old dropped out of the race two days later and Mauricio Pochettino, as reported for a number of weeks, is on the brink of being confirmed as the new head coach at Stamford Bridge.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino on March 20, 2022 © Reuters

Nagelsmann has since dropped out of the race to become the new Tottenham Hotspur boss, and his next move after his premature departure from the Allianz Arena is now unknown.

However, Struth has suggested that there are no regrets in not pushing harder for the Chelsea job, criticising the club's transfer policy, while insisting that Nagelsmann could have taken the role had he wanted it.

Speaking to BILD podcast Phrasenmaher, Struth said: "I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call. There were some phone conversations.

"It was the right decision not to go there. It's a club in troubled waters at the moment. And their transfer policy, spending a few hundred million euros, has raised expectations that need to be met. There were also some other issues.

Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly before the match on April 18, 2023 © Reuters

"He was their No.1 (choice), that was our information. I believe it would have happened if he had wanted it."

Pochettino, who could be confirmed as Chelsea boss later this week, will be tasked with trying to earn a return to the top seven in the Premier League in 2023-24.

The West Londoners currently sit in 11th position ahead of a closing triple-header with Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Pochettino will also be required to significantly reduce the playing squad in a bid to boost Chelsea's ailing FFP position, but the Argentine is said to targeting a new goalkeeper, central midfielder and centre-forward during the summer transfer window.