Roberto De Zerbi is on Chelsea’s shortlist to replace Mauricio Pochettino – but there’s a catch

Roberto De Zerbi has been selected to become Chelsea’s new head coach, according to talkSPORT.

The Blues announced on Tuesday that they had agreed to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino after just one season together.

4

Pochettino helped Chelsea reach sixth place in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final amid an injury-plagued campaign.

The Argentine signed a two-year contract with the club last summer but will no longer manage the team next season.

So Chelsea have started the search for their next head coach and former Brighton boss De Zerbi is in the running.

The Italian has mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the Seagulls but Chelsea will still have to pay compensation to Brighton if they wish to appoint him this summer.

There was a release clause of more than £10 million in De Zerbi’s now-defunct contract in case other clubs were interested in him.

talkSPORT understands that despite an amicable split to allow De Zerbi to leave without reward, any club wishing to sign him would still have to pay a fee to Brighton.

The amount should be decided on a sliding scale depending on timing, with De Zerbi certainly in Chelsea’s thinking.

He joins Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on the Blues’ shortlist.

4

4

4

talkSPORT understands Chelsea will ask Leicester for permission to speak to Maresca, who joined Manchester City last summer.

He won the league title in his first season with the Foxes to secure their instant return to the Premier League.

Chelsea want to recruit a young coach, McKenna, 38, admired, but faces competition from Brighton.

The former Manchester United manager sealed back-to-back promotions with Ipswich as they finished second behind Leicester in the Championship.

Frank is only the second candidate with Premier League experience under his belt alongside De Zerbi.

The Dane has been at Brentford since 2016 and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2021.

He has since managed to keep them in the top flight, with west London neighbors Chelsea interested in potentially hiring him.