EPL: Next Chelsea manager: Nagelsmann drawback causes Boehly rift, as Ornstein confirms alternative target is out of the race

David Ornstein has confirmed which high flying Premier League boss has been ruled out of the race to become the next Chelsea manager, while sources in Germany have revealed why the Blues hierarchy are split on Julian Nagelsmann.

Graham Potter became the second Chelsea boss and the 12th Premier League manager to be sacked this season. The Athletic reported Chelsea’s hierarchy had hoped to give Potter more time, but did not see enough signs of progression despite splashing out over £500m on new players in the last nine months.

Chelsea will be led by Potter’s former assistant, Bruno Saltor, for the visit of Liverpool on Tuesday night. Defeat there would all but hammer the final nail in their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via league position.

Various names have already been linked with succeeding Graham Potter. The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Oliver Glasner, Zinedine Zidane, Ruben Amorin and Mauricio Pochettino have all been touted by one outlet or another.

However, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein one candidate who is not in the frame is Brighton’s De Zerbi.

The Italian is earning rave reviews for the work he’s done at the AMEX since, ironically, succeeding Graham Potter.

Per Ornstein, Chelsea are full of admiration for the way in which Brighton are run and the impact De Zerbi has had.

However, he ‘does not fit the profile they are looking for’. As such, Ornstein categorically stated De Zerbi is ‘not in the running’.

Nagelsmann splits Chelsea opinion
The Sun recently labelled former Barcelona and Spain boss, Luis Enrique, the ‘frontrunner’. However, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, ex-Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is favoured among some within Chelsea’s hierarchy.

Plettenberg tweeted Chelsea’s technical director, Christopher Vivell, is not alone in ‘pushing’ for Nagelsmann.

However, chairman Todd Boehly and right-hand man Behdad Eghbali ‘prefer [a] more experienced option’.

Despite landing his first managerial role with Hoffenheim back in 2016, Nagelsmann is still just 35 years of age.

He does boast Champions League experience through his time at RB Leipzig and Bayern, though Boehly is among those courting a more seasoned campaigner.

Plettenberg added Nagelsmann is ‘still in the race’, though with Boehly and Eghbali having the final say, may struggle to convince.

Indeed, Ornstein added that while co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley are leading the search, it’s Boehly and Eghbali who’ll ultimately make the hire.

Adding his take to the situation, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed dialogue between Chelsea and Nagelsmann began two days ago and remains open.

Nagelsmann is ‘open’ to discussing the long-term Chelsea project, but a decision one way or another won’t be rushed.

Romano concluded Chelsea are ‘taking their time’, while Ruben Amorin (Sporting Lisbon) and Luis Enrique were also namechecked as being ‘appreciated’ at Stamford Bridge.