Football News: Chelsea close to finalising Mauricio Pochettino appointment

Chelsea are apparently hopeful that they will be able to confirm Mauricio Pochettino's hiring as the new head coach later this week. Caretaker manager Frank Lampard will try to break the Blues' five-game losing streak when they face London rivals Arsenal.

Chelsea have now plummeted to 12th place in the Premier League rankings. And thoughts are already turning to next season, which will not include any European action.

Pochettino, former Spurs boss, has been widely touted to be the new Stamford Bridge manager for over a week and a half. Chelsea started the process of finding a permanent replacement for Graham Potter by being linked to a number of elite managers.

The list also included Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, who were at one point considered to be the favourites.

However, the club's owners, according to 90min, have not considered anyone other than Pochettino because the Argentine impressed at the start of the selection process.

According to the source, Chelsea now believes they are in a position to confirm the arrival of the 51-year-old within days.

Officials from the club are claimed to have held additional conversations over the weekend, with only 'minor technicalities' left to sign later this week.

Pochettino is rumoured to be in attendance when Chelsea faces the Premier League title-chasing Gunners, however it remains to be seen whether that will happen given the focus that it would detract from a crucial match.

When Pochettino arrives in June, it is expected that he will have a significant say in which players are permitted to depart Chelsea in the summer.

As a result of a recently revealed £121 million loss and spending over £600 million across two transfer windows, major cuts must be made in order to lower playing numbers and improve Chelsea's situation with FFP.

Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have both been linked with Inter Milan in recent days, while Mateo Kovacic is thought to be looking for a new challenge.

Even while Lampard has hinted that the out-of-favour striker could be recalled against his former team on Tuesday, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may potentially go on a free transfer.

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