Julian Nagelsmann ‘was Chelsea’s No 1 choice’ ahead of Mauricio Pochettino

Julian Nagelsmann ‘was Chelsea’s No 1 choice’ ahead of Mauricio Pochettino – but he was right to turn down a ‘club in troubled waters, spending a few hundred million euros’, claims his agent

  • Nagelsmann was Chelsea’s No.1 choice but turned the managerial job down
  • His agent said Nagelsmann was right to turn down a ‘club in troubled waters’
  • He also said Chelsea are ‘spending a few hundred million euros’ to fix their issues

Julian Nagelsmann‘s agent, Volker Struth, says the former Bayern Munich boss was Chelsea‘s No.1 choice to take over, putting him ahead of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, Nagelsmann pulled out of the race in April after growing frustrated with the process – leaving the door open for Pochettino’s return to the Premier League. 

Pochettino is said to have agreed terms with Chelsea to become their next manager and is set to fly into London to sign a three-year deal in the coming days. 

Speaking on Bild’s podcast Phrasenmaher, Struth said Nagelsmann was right to turn down a ‘club in troubled waters’. 

He said the club are ‘spending a few hundred million euros’ to fix their issues and hinted there would be ‘expectations’ that he’d have to have meet as a result. 

Julian Nagelsmann ‘s agent says the former Bayern Munich boss was Chelsea ‘s No.1 choice

Pochettino is said to have agreed terms with Chelsea to become their next manager and is set to fly into London to sign a three-year deal in the coming days

However, Nagelsmann 's agent has said that the former Bayern Munich boss turned down Todd Boehly's side after growing frustrated with the process

Nagelsmann pulled out of the race in April after growing frustrated with the process – leaving the door open for Pochettino’s (left) return to the Premier League

Struth said that Nagelsmann was right to turn down a 'club that is in troubled waters'

Struth said that Nagelsmann was right to turn down a ‘club that is in troubled waters’

The 57-year-old agent said: ‘I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call [after Nagelsmann’s dismissal at Bayern Munich]. There were some phone conversations. 

‘It was the right decision [by Nagelsmann] not to go there. It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment. 

‘And their transfer policy, spending a few hundred million euros, has raised expectations that need to be met. There were also some other issues.

‘He was their number one [choice], that was our information. I believe it would have happened if he had wanted it.’

However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea have refuted such claims – acknowledging their interest in Nagelsmann but denying he was their first-choice. 

Their stance comes shortly after it was revealed Pochettino had agreed to become the next Chelsea manager. 

Pochettino will jet in from Spain to complete the deal that will see him appointed Chelsea’s new head coach. 

The Argentine will put pen to paper on what is believed to be a three-year contract to replace current interim boss Frank Lampard.

Pochettino is currently in Spain but will fly into London in the coming days to complete the formalities attached to his new job. 

The 51-year-old negotiated his own contract and is waiting for the green light from his lawyer before signing the paperwork.

Meanwhile, Nagelsmann has been out of action since March – when he was sacked at the Bayern Munich boss and replaced with Thomas Tuchel. 

More to follow…