Graham Potter is close to becoming the new Chelsea manager - and it's no surprise considering his previous comments about the club.
The Blues are on the hunt for a new boss after they sacked Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday morning. The German was dismissed less than 24 hours after losing 1-0 to Champions League rivals Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, a result which few were expecting.
Potter is thought to be Chelsea chair Todd Boehly's preferred choice to succeed Tuchel. Brighton have given the Blues permission to speak to their manager, with Boehly prepared to pay the Englishman's £16million release clause. Potter will travel to London shortly for talks.
Potter has spoken very highly about Chelsea's squad in the past. After the summer 2020 transfer window - when the Blues signed Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, among others - Potter was more than happy to wax lyrical about their investment.
"I think it’s just exciting for the Premier League, exciting for the competition," Potter said in September that year when asked about Chelsea's business. "There’s a chance that the top teams will invest. Everyone does it in different ways, of course.
"But for us we just need to take the challenge on, embrace it, it’s what we’re here for, to test ourselves against the best. We’re lucky that we are here [in the Premier League] and we’re going to do everything we can to keep fighting and try and get points."
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Potter has done a fine job of maintaining Brighton's Premier League status and made similar comments when asked about the Seagulls' chances against Chelsea in January 2022. He was speaking ahead of the Premier League fixture which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Amex. At the time, the Blues were challenging for the Premier League title.
"Chelsea do what they do very, very well - at a world class level," said Potter. "It will be a great challenge. They've been a back three, went to a four against Tottenham. They have that flexibility. Always very strong. Set plays very good. Defensively, so hard to create chances against. In attack, they have various options, plenty of flexibility there."
Those options might become Potter's if talks progress well. The 47-year-old will be know he'll need to win silverware and finish in the top four this season - and perhaps that will be the bare minimum expected. Boehly could even demand the Premier League title given the Blues spent over £250million this summer.
Tuchel achieved significant success at Chelsea - averaging a trophy around every six-and-a-half months - and that still wasn't enough to keep his job. He won the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup, as well as reaching three other finals.
There's a chance Potter could be appointed by Chelsea on Wednesday evening due to the acceleration of the saga. If talks go to plan, it's hard to imagine the ex-Swansea boss not being in charge for Saturday's West London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
