Mauricio Pochettino 'leaves Chelsea by mutual consent' as four-man shortlist to replace him emerges

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has left the club by mutual consent after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Despite a difficult start to the season, Pochettino's side rallied well in the conclusion of the Premier League finishing inside the top 6 and securing Europa League football.

A report from The Telegraph confirmed the shock news.

It stated: "Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after meeting with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali over the course of two days."

Pochettino released the following statement to Chelsea supporters: "Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club's history."

"The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come," he concluded.

According to the report there is not thought to be any bad blood between the two parties.

Todd Boehly and the rest of the Chelsea hierarchy will now immediately be on the hunt for a new young and progressive manager who would ideally take the reins in time for pre-season.

Among the names likely to be considered will be Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Girona’s Michel, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, who has been lined up by Brighton, and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca.

It is claimed that Pochettino had met with owner Todd Boehly for dinner last Friday night, before, on Monday and Tuesday, spending time with other key figures such as Winstanley and Stewart, and meeting with Eghbali.

The Argentine is now the third permanent manager to leave Stamford Bridge since the end of the Roman Abramovich era, following in the footsteps of Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel.

Notable moments from Pochettino took Chelsea to the Carabao Cup final which they fell just short of to Liverpool, and the emergence of Cole Palmer as one of the league's best players.