Chelsea hold talks with 38-year-old manager to become permanent head coach

Chelsea hold talks with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim to become permanent manager

Chelsea are believed to have held talks with Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim to become their permanent head coach.

This is according to the Guardian (h/t Metro) who have also name-dropped Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique as two other names linked with the job. However, it seems that Amorim is the clear frontrunner as of now.

He apparently has a 10million Euros release clause in his contract. That won’t be an overly ridiculous price to pay for one of the smartest young coaches around.

Amorim, 38, falls in line with the approach the club seems to have taken in recent months. The arrivals of Enzo Fernandez, David Datro Fofana, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke among others on long-term deals have shown that the club is planning for the future.

The right choice?

With a young squad at his disposal, Amorim could find it relatively easier to command authority in the dressing room, much like Mikel Arteta has done with a young Arsenal team this season. Of course, that isn’t to doubt their credentials as managers.

But seniority in age can play a role in enhancing a manager’s perceived authority in the dressing room. Amorim is doing a stellar job with Sporting CP.

He joined the Leoes in 2020 and has since won four domestic titles with them, including the Primeira Liga title in the 2020-21 season. That isn’t an easy task at all with the likes of SL Benfica and FC Porto in the league.

His team plays attractive football with a focus on possession and wing play. He can bring a fresh approach to the Chelsea team in search of an identity, with the stars of yesteryear having either left or being at the dusk of their playing days, and a barrage of new younglings.

More Chelsea News:

• Enzo Fernandez gets his contract extended by a year as Chelsea trigger a clause
• Kepa Arrizabalaga feels manager and player changes are the reason for Chelsea FC’s struggles this season
• Real Madrid ready to make a move for Reece James if Chelsea want to balance books

Talks, of course, don’t necessarily mean that the manager will be hired. There will be other options on the market and one can imagine Boehly and co. will take their time in making their decision. That is why they hired Frank Lampard to be the caretaker manager after Graham Potter’s sacking earlier this month.