Graham Potter sack timeline revealed as Chelsea board consider future while ideal replacement becomes ‘willing’ to take over

Chelsea are beginning to consider the future of Graham Potter as their head coach and a report has revealed who could replace him – and when.

Potter only became Chelsea boss in September following their dismissal of Thomas Tuchel. Rewarded for his good work with Brighton, the English coach took the biggest job of his career so far.

To start with, he inspired some positive results. Chelsea kicked off his reign with a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg before embarking on a five-match winning run, which included doing the double over Serie A champions, AC Milan.

Two draws followed – including one against Manchester United – before a win over Salzburg. But in Potter’s 10th game, things came crashing back down to earth.

A 4-1 defeat to his former club, Brighton, was a somewhat embarrassing way for his unbeaten start to come to a conclusion – and although a win over Dinamo Zagreb came next, Chelsea proceeded to go into the World Cup break on the back of three consecutive losses without scoring.

When they returned with a win over Bournemouth, it may have signalled a step in the right direction. However, since then, Chelsea have drawn with Nottingham Forest and suffered consecutive defeats to Manchester City. The most recent represented the end of their FA Cup journey at the first hurdle, with the same side that knocked them out of the Carabao Cup sealing their fate.

All the while, there has been talk of Potter coming under pressure. Although he took a contract until 2027 upon his appointment, Chelsea might not have much patience for him if results do not approve.

Indeed, a report from The Sun has now claimed that Chelsea’s board are weighing up whether to give Potter the sack or not.

According to the tabloid, Potter may only be given until the end of the month to keep his job. But if there is an unsatisfactory result against Fulham on Thursday, he may already reach the end of his reign.

Chelsea will have to weigh up their strategy after previously backing Tuchel in the summer transfer window before sacking him days after it closed.

During the most recent loss to Man City, some Chelsea fans began chanting the name of their former German tactician, who memorably led them to Champions League glory in 2021.

Although Tuchel is still out of work, it is unlikely he will be reappointed at Stamford Bridge. But The Sun has now shed some light on who could replace Potter when the time comes to sack him.

Potter sack could prompt Pochettino approach

The report claims that a different former Paris Saint-Germain coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is “willing” to take the reins in west London.

As a former Tottenham Hotspur manager, he still has property in London. His connection with Spurs may be an “issue”, it is stated. But Pochettino would likely answer positively if Chelsea called him.

The Blues could give him his third job in the Premier League after spells with Southampton and Spurs. With the latter, he reached a Champions League final in 2019.

Since then, the 50-year-old won three trophies with PSG. However, he lost his job with the French champions over the summer.

Now, Chelsea could give Pochettino a route back into management. Since they are currently 10th in the Premier League, he would have to oversee some changes.

But he did well at Tottenham despite a lack of trophies, in fairness. Now, he will be keen to reinforce his reputation after a PSG stint that wasn’t exclusively positive.

For now, Potter is the man tasked with improving Chelsea’s results. But the club’s new owners have already shown their ruthless side by axing Tuchel. A few months on, his successor could be walking a fine line.

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