Graham Potter is the new of manager of Chelsea since replacing Thomas Tuchel in September 2022.

Managerial decision time for Chelsea ahead of January transfer window

by

There is a growing sense of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, which even permeates the corridors of power at the club, sparking conversations that may lead to Chelsea making a new managerial appointment.

Aside from all the transfer gossip circulating around the Blues, the priority decisions may rest entirely upon who is leading the team.

Chelsea spent just over £260 million during the summer transfer window, recouping almost £57 million via player sales and loan deals. However, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital were hoping for a more favourable return on that expenditure.

But after making a poor start to the 2022-23 campaign, accompanied by friction regarding transfer policy, Thomas Tuchel was fired.

Graham Potter was hired to pick up the pieces, getting his tenure off to a positive start with an unbeaten run stretching 9 games in all competitions, having drawn 3 and won 6 of his first games in charge.

Chelsea seemed to be heading in the right direction, yet having failed to win any of their last 5 https://www.premierleague.com/ encounters, the Blues need fresh impetus to turn this ailing season around again.

Back him or sack him?

To say that Potter is under intense pressure would be quite the understatement, with speculation gathering pace that he could be fired within a matter of weeks, unless there is an immediate improvement in form and results.

This inevitably creates a dilemma for Boehly, who hired the Chelsea manager based upon his achievements at Brighton and Hove Albion, where Potter vastly increased his coaching reputation.

Since his appointment on 8th September and after 14 games in charge, Potter has led the team to 7 wins, 3 draws, and 4 defeats.

This undoubtedly makes planning for transfer all the more difficult for Chelsea, not to mention for Boehly as he prepares to sanction important deals, weighing up every decision based upon who will lead the team.

Potter is already being tipped as the next Premier League manager to be sacked, and just as interestingly, his odds to become the next England manager have also shortened recently. But before backing either possibility, checking in-depth betting site reviews would be wise, where the latest odds and promotions can be compared, accompanied by valuable insight and expert guides.

Given the current circumstances, the Chelsea hierarchy must consider their next moves very carefully. Key signings would certainly aid Potter’s cause.

However, if the board is not entirely convinced he can bring improved results and performances, the blues could find themselves hiring a new manager and backing an entirely different transfer strategy.

Waiting on further developments

Acknowledging that upcoming results could ultimately decide the fate of Potter, should his position become untenable, there is one potentially ideal candidate waiting in the wings. According to the https://www.teamtalk.com/chelsea news section, Mauricio Pochettino is monitoring the situation at Stamford Bridge, open to the idea of making his managerial return to the Premier League.

This has been fed by reports that Pochettino has told friends of his interest, albeit keenly aware of the pressures and challenges he would face as Chelsea manager, while the Argentine coach is believed to have already made discreet enquiries. Pochettino would certainly be an interesting appointment, boasting a high-profile status in European football and continually linked with top jobs, following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2022.

Likewise, this could lead Boehly and Chelsea to avoid rushing into any transfer decisions, biding their time to see how results pan out under Potter, ahead of giving the go-ahead to important investments.

If the current Blues boss is eventually given the push, then any incoming managerial appointee would clearly have their own agenda, requiring a certain level of input regarding new signings.

This makes all the recent speculation regarding transfer all the more intriguing, and everything could literally change in an instant, should the club fire Potter and seek their third head coach of the season. Just to spice things up a little more, bookies are pricing Pochettino as favourite for the England job, which may nudge Chelsea into an even swifter decision regarding their next managerial appointment.