Chelsea are reportedly poised to appoint Julian Nagelsmann as their new manager, dealing a significant blow to Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of landing the highly-rated coach. The move comes after the Blues parted ways with Graham Potter, who was dismissed just months after taking the helm at Stamford Bridge.
According to reports, Chelsea have already made moves to secure Nagelsmann’s services, with key decision-makers Christopher Vivell and Laurence Stewart said to have strong ties to the 35-year-old German from their time working together at the Red Bull operation. If a deal can be struck, it would end months of speculation linking Nagelsmann with Tottenham.
The north London club were believed to have been keen on bringing Nagelsmann to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to replace Antonio Conte, who left the club at the end of last season. However, the noises emerging from Germany suggested that Nagelsmann was in no hurry to make a decision about his future, leaving Spurs fans anxiously waiting for a sign that he was interested in the job.
That wait has now proved to be in vain, with Chelsea emerging as the favourites to land Nagelsmann. The Blues have a reputation for being willing to throw money at their targets, and their pursuit of the German coach will be no exception.
For Tottenham, meanwhile, the news is a major disappointment. With their hopes of signing Nagelsmann fading fast, they will be left to reflect on what might have been. Unless a miracle happens, they will now have to look elsewhere for a new manager to take them forward.