After Thomas Tuchel’s surprise sacking this morning, it seems Chelsea are wasting no time in their search for his replacement.
According to widespread reports this lunchtime, Brighton’s Graham Potter has now been given permission to hold talks with the Blues and is expected in London today to meet with co-owner Todd Boehly.
Sky Sports News also reveal that Chelsea are expected to meet the release clause in Potter’s contract at The Amex – rumoured to be around £16m – so it seems they are closing in on the highly-rated 47-year-old.
For me, this could be good news for Newcastle United. Why? Because Brighton’s start to the new season suggested they’d provide us with serious competition in and around the top eight this term.
With four wins from their opening six games and a string of hugely impressive displays, they currently sit fourth in the table, leaving them the bookies favourites – outside the ‘big six’ – to qualify for Europe ahead of Newcastle and West Ham.
However, should Potter leave for Chelsea, one of the key pillars behind their recent rise would be gone, putting big pressure on the owners to find a man capable of filling the huge boots he’d leave behind.
They are one of the best run clubs in the country and may replace him with another gem, but it’s hard to see this not impacting their impressive form, built around his ability to get the best out of his squad, dominate possession and stifle teams with a free-flowing system that often overwhelms teams at both ends of the field.
It’s not done yet, but if this one goes through it can only increase our chances amongst the chasing pack pushing for a top seven finish or better.
