Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino agrees deal to replace Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager – reports

Mauricio Pochettino has agreed a deal to take over as manager at Chelsea, according to multiple reports.

The Argentine has been linked with the vacancy at Stamford Bridge since Graham Potter was sacked in April.

Pochettino looks set to be the fourth manager of the season for Chelsea’s owner Todd Boehly, after he sacked Thomas Tuchel and then Potter, before giving Frank Lampard the job on a temporary basis.

Lampard lost his first six matches in charge in his second spell, and on Saturday the club slumped to a disappointing 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Reports suggest that while a deal is agreed, nothing is yet official, with nothing signed.

Pochettino has been without a job after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer after struggling in Europe with the French team.

The former Tottenham, Southampton and Espanyol manager was one of several names linked with the vacancy, and now appears to have beaten Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and others to the appointment.

The 51-year-old coach will have a tough task over the summer as he looks to reshape a squad that had £600 million spent on it over the year, but remain rooted in mid-table.

The club need a main striker to lead the line, but they also will need to trim their squad while raising funds, in order to meet Financial Fair Play regulations in the coming years.

Another problem is the potential exit of Mason Mount, who is out of contract next summer and is heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer as Jurgen Klopp attempts a rebuild of his own.

Pochettino started his managerial career with Espanyol in 2009 before quickly moving on to Southampton, and then Tottenham. He took the club to a Champions League final in 2019 – losing to Liverpool – and was unable to win a trophy for the North London side.