Former Chelsea star Timo Werner has already revealed exactly why his old club should appoint Julian Nagelsmann to replace Graham Potter. The latter's departure from the Blues was confirmed last Sunday evening and Nagelsmann is now firmly on the possible permanent replacement shortlist alongside Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino and several others.
Werner and Nagelsmann worked together at RB Leipzig for the 2019/20 season before the forward secured a move to Chelsea in the summer. His two-year spell in west London before re-joining Leipzig ahead of the current campaign is mostly labelled a disappointment, despite his role in Chelsea's 2021 Champions League triumph.
Incoming Chelsea signing Christopher Nkunku has also worked with Nagelsmann and former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel, giving the former a glowing verdict. "Thomas Tuchel used to ask a lot of me [at Paris Saint-Germain], but I didn't have enough time to do what he asked," Nkunku told Bild in 2020. "Julian Nagelsmann also expects a lot from me, and he's demanding about what I do in training and games. That's taken me further. He also talks a lot about tactics."
READ MORE: The real reason Frank Lampard was at Chelsea vs Liverpool revealed as new manager option emerges
Nagelsmann's past relationship with Nkunku is not the only link that the young German coach has in west London, acording to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg. "[Christopher] Vivell and Nagelsmann have a strong connection since years," he wrote on Twitter.
"They have worked together in Leipzig. They share the same ideas of football. Usually, Nagelsmann wanted to make a break until summer. Things and plans could change now."
Both Vivell and Nagelsmann were at Leipzig together in 2021 whereas Laurence Stewart, another key director for the Blues, was there from 2018 to 2020 and overlapped in the latter part of his time at the Bundesliga side.
While those links to those currently at the club bode well for Nagelsmann's chances of becoming Chelsea boss, it is actually Werner's admission after Leipzig's Champions League win against Benfica that could provide Todd Boehly with the clear answer to his new manager search.
"Nagelsmann is getting us very well-prepared before the games, he's always got a few ideas when it comes to tactics and how we can react to our opponents," Werner told 'DAZN'. "It's worked really well in every game we've played. He sets us up, but we have to execute out on the pitch."
Bruno Saltor was the man placed in temporary charge, but Potter's successor is expected to be in control for the Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid. A permanent appointment looks highly unlikely now though as Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is closing in on becoming the club's temporary boss on an interim basis until the end of the season.
That win for Nagelsmann in the Champions League against Benfica came just a few months into his reign at Red Bull Arena, and while he would have less time to implement any ideas ahead of a major European clash, he would be more than capable of taking Chelsea into the last four especially given his prior accomplishments.
Nagelsmann guided Leipzig to the semi-finals in the 2020/21 Champions League and he had not lost a single match in Europe's elite competition with Bayern this season, further proving he also has the ability to win big games. But, the selection of Lampard to take control until the end of the season means that the Blues could be missing out on a huge Champions League opportunity.
Despite claims he would be taking a short reflective break after his Bayern sacking and that Chelsea would need to pay the German giants to appoint Nagelsmann, he could have given the Blues the best possible chance of progression. Alongside a possible immediate impact, football.london understands that Chelsea believe Nagelsmann's characteristics and attributes as a coach match their long-term vision at the club.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea player ratings vs Liverpool as N'Golo Kante and Fofana brilliant, Kai Havertz poor
Four things learned as Chelsea make Liverpool coaching addition and futures remain in doubt
What Jurgen Klopp and Bruno Saltor joked about in Chelsea vs Liverpool amid Mason Mount question
Richard Keys slams Chelsea owner Todd Boehly as Jose Mourinho theory shared
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news and views from Stamford Bridge
