Three things that will possible happen to Chelsea if Ruben Amorim accept Liverpool offer
If Chelsea’s potential summer wasn’t tough enough, then suggestions that Liverpool are closing in on appointing Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim as their own new head coach just makes things a bit more complicated. The 39-year-old – who is laughably four months younger than Thiago Silva – is the favourite to be in the Anfield dugout next season.
Although reports stating that a verbal agreement between the parties has been reached have since been amended, toning things down, the very existence of such work tells a story. Whereas Liverpool have been able to put four months of public admiration towards prospective head coaches, Chelsea will wait on until the end of May before making a decision over Mauricio Pochettino.
His position in charge will be assessed when the season is out. That was always the plan, but facing up to another year without European football, open fan revolt, and serious financial, structural, and emotional problems was not.
Pochettino is an unloved man and the supporters – both online and at Stamford Bridge or away grounds – are only too happy to make that clear. The 52-year-old himself is voicing increased displeasure at the state of his squad whilst progress 12 months on from Graham Potter hasn’t shifted results.
The club is different if not better. There are more positive vibes but not yet points or clear tactical successes. There is a real chance that unless a dramatic change comes in the next six weeks or so – and even this might not truly be enough – Pochettino’s job will be very much on the line.
Amorim is a standout candidate to fill one of any number of possible vacancies across the continent. Chelsea, we already know, are admirers of his work. If he goes to Merseyside, though, it would throw up all sorts of questions for Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital consortium group.
Let’s looks at some of the potential impacts of such a move:
Pochetti-no go?
The most obvious impact here is that Chelsea simply look at the managerial market and play for safety. Even if evidence suggests Pochettino doesn’t warrant another stab – and there is a mounting pile to say that this is true, even with mitigation – not having an ideal replacement could put a spanner in much movement.
Chelsea cannot afford to make yet another poor appointment and Amorim is certainly an admired figure for a reason. In the absence of his availability there could be a freeze. Roberto De Zerbi has plenty of red flags and competition with other clubs in Europe for other head coaches will likely leave the Blues fighting a hard battle.
In this scenario it’s not impossible to think that sticking with Pochettino might become an appealing – if not ideal – outcome.
Viktor Gyoker-Reds
Chelsea have strongly been linked with signing Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish forward has had a stunning first year under Amorim in Portugal and is now being tipped to make a huge move to the Premier League in the summer.
Arsenal and Chelsea are among the sides keeping tabs on the 25-year-old but should Amorim go to Liverpool it’s not crazy to think he’d be keen for a link-up. The Reds will have money to spend under their new boss in this hypothetical world and could even have that fund boosted by the sale of Mohammed Salah should Saudi Arabia come calling.
Gyokeres is hardly a replacement but a hole in the squad would be open and on paper his hard-working style would suit the Liverpool squad as well as, obviously, their manager. We’ve seen signings like this before when managers take players with them across the world and Gyokeres to Liverpool with Amorim fits the bill all hands down.
Chelsea would be left without the former Coventry City man. Whether or not that is a bad thing depends on if you see £85million for a player that was in the Championship 12 months ago as good value.
Rob-Brighton-o of De Zerbi
If the first outcome – keeping Pochettino – doesn’t work then a different manager will clearly be needed. De Zerbi is linked with every top job out there. Chelsea now have well-documented history with Brighton and it would be very much within character to see this play out.
The Italian has some seriously big problems that have come the fore in his first full year in charge but that hasn’t stopped his stock from growing. Brighton’s home form has been sensational in 2023/24 and their work with limited resources continues to impress.
However, Chelsea would have to pay yet more money to the Seagulls to drag him away from the south coast – and that’s on top of compensating Pochettino. If Chelsea’s defensive issues are worrying then De Zerbi’s are just as glaring too.
He is, outside of Amorim, the most widely-known name, though. The Premier League experience as well as previous with Mykhailo Mudryk, Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella, and Moises Caicedo, all make him a prime candidate – rightly or wrongly.
Robbing Brighton of their next head coach only seems to carry with it more problems for Chelsea than it does answers. That makes it almost certain to happen (only partially joking here, too).
