Chelsea are reportedly interested in hiring Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi as a potential replacement for under-fire Blues head coach Graham Potter.
The 47-year-old has found himself under pressure at the west London club after a series of disappointing results.
Despite previous claims suggesting that Chelsea owner Todd Boehly will continue to back Potter, some behind-the-scenes details have come to light about a potential replacement for the Englishman.
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Chelsea have a genuine interest in De Zerbi and that he would be keen to replace Potter at Stamford Bridge.
The report also adds that the Blues hierarchy, who consider the Italian as a top-level manager, are having talks behind the scenes about when a potential managerial change could be made.
After winning 20 of the 30 games he had in charge of previous club Shakhtar Donetsk between May 2021 and July 2022, De Zerbi was appointed as Brighton’s replacement for Potter in September.
Since then, the 43-year-old has overlooked 21 games with the Seagulls across all competitions, winning 10, drawing four and losing seven.
One of those victories came against Chelsea back in October as the south coast club secured a 4-1 win in what was Potter’s first return to the AMEX Stadium.
Would Roberto De Zerbi be a good replacement for Graham Potter?
Yes
No
This result was not only Potter’s first defeat with the Blues, but it was also De Zerbi’s first win with Brighton, ultimately leading the Englishman to say that his side couldn’t match the home side’s intensity on the day.
Interestingly, Pep Guardiola even said that De Zerbi’s impact ‘will be massive’ in the future.
Taking into account how Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson recently criticised Chelsea’s slow style of play after their recent 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, it’s understandable why the club are apparently interested in appointing the Italian given how he’s made his Brighton side play with intensity.
Moving forward, should the Blues hierarchy change their current stance on Potter, we feel that approaching De Zerbi could be a viable solution for them.