Mauricio Pochettino is on thin ice after his Chelsea side were thrashed by Arsenal on Tuesday.
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Chelsea chiefs earlier this season reportedly earmarked two managers as candidates to replace Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine's dismissal this summer is by no means a certainty but Tuesday night's dismal performance against Arsenal could prompt co-owner Todd Boehly to begin looking in a new direction.
Blues fans hoped that Pochettino's appointment would bring an end to a woeful first year under the ownership of Boehly and Clearlake Capital, which was overseen by Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and finally Frank Lampard in the dugout.
However, the turnaround has been marginal and Chelsea remain one of the most inconsistent teams in the Premier League. This week's 5-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium is a case in point, as they were torn apart by the Gunners in humiliating fashion.
Pochettino is set to meet with the Chelsea hierarchy for a post-season debrief and a two-way assessment of the club in its current state, with huge transfer spending so far unable to solve their problems on the pitch.
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If the 52-year-old is dismissed after only one campaign at the helm, Chelsea are already believed to have two names on their managerial shortlist. According to The Guardian, Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi are both of interest at Stamford Bridge.
Sporting boss Amorim is thought to be keeping his options open as he powers towards a second Liga Portugal title. He flew to London earlier this week for talks with West Ham and is also on Liverpool's radar, although the chances of him joining either side are becoming increasingly remote.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are among the other high-profile teams with managerial vacancies to fill this summer, and they could provide competition for Chelsea if they decide the time is right to move for Amorim.
Brighton manager De Zerbi was also linked with the Liverpool job as Jurgen Klopp prepares to call time on a nine-year spell on Merseyside. But the Reds are instead advancing in their pursuit of Feyenoord's Arne Slot, leaving De Zerbi up for grabs.
Bringing European football to the south coast while employing an exciting brand of football and improving a collection of young players have all seen the Seagulls boss' stock soar since his appointment in 2022.
Chelsea's squad is almost exclusively made up of young players, which Pochettino claims is part of the reason he is struggling to mastermind a long-term run of results.