Nagelsmann Chelsea's 'dream' target as club begins wide managerial search
Chelsea have identified Julian Nagelsmann as their preferred managerial candidate as they begin a thorough search to replace the sacked Liam Rosenior, according to TEAMtalk sources. The club's co-owners, Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, are said to view the German as a dream appointment, having wanted to hire him in 2023, but no formal approach has yet been made.
Rosenior was dismissed earlier this week after just 106 days in charge, a period that saw Chelsea lose five consecutive games without scoring a goal for the first time since 1912. Sources indicate an irreparable rift between the manager and the playing squad accelerated his departure, prompting the club to swiftly assess a wide range of potential successors.
While Nagelsmann, currently unattached after his stint with the German national team, is the top target, Chelsea are casting a wide net. Insiders report the club is conducting due diligence on a diverse pool of candidates, including several currently working outside Europe's traditional top leagues. Among them is Matthias Jaissle, the former RB Salzburg coach now at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, who has been labelled the 'new Nagelsmann'.
Further options from the Saudi Pro League are also under consideration, with former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, now managing Al-Hilal, mentioned as a potential fascinating option. The search also extends to coaches within the European sphere, with Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola understood to be on the radar.
Notably, the list includes a former Chelsea player in Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard, who has impressed in his first senior managerial role at Como, leading them to Serie A promotion, is reportedly admired by the club's hierarchy. Another high-profile Spaniard, Xabi Alonso, is also under consideration. Alonso, sacked by Real Madrid in January, had been linked with the Liverpool job, but with the Reds sticking by Arne Slot, he represents an available candidate.
The club is also open to a domestic appointment, with Newcastle's Eddie Howe mentioned as a name to watch given the uncertainty surrounding his position at St James' Park. The broad scope of the search underscores Chelsea's desire to leave no stone unturned, with intermediaries actively putting forward names to the club's decision-makers.
Regarding Nagelsmann, sources suggest that while he rejected Chelsea's advances in 2023, he was fond of the club and its people; the breakdown was over the proposed project plans. Whether those issues could be resolved in a new round of talks remains unclear, but Chelsea's ambitious ownership is determined to get this appointment right. With no immediate rush to appoint, the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the next phase of Chelsea's project under the BlueCo ownership.
