Former Spurs and Man Utd managers linked with vacancy at Newcastle United’s Premier League rivals

Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur managers have been linked with vacancy at Chelsea after Graham Potter left his role at Newcastle United’s Premier League rivals.

Just hours after Leicester City parted company with Brendan Rodgers, The Blues confirmed they had agreed to bring down the curtain on Potter’s reign, just short of eight months after he was named as successful to Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.

In a joint-statement released on the club’s official website, co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea. We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome. Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season. We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.”

The decision to part company with Potter means three of Newcastle’s Premier League rivals are now in the market for a new manager. A number of names have been linked with all three vacancies at Chelsea, Leicester and Spurs - but it is the position at Stamford Bridge that is said to be attracting the interest of some eye-catching names.

Recently sacked former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is said to be the current frontrunner for the role and there have been reports the Chelsea hierachy have already made contact with the German. Interim manager Bruno Saltor is also in contention for a permanent role and former Leicester manager Rodgers has also been tipped to be a possible candidate to return to the club where he spent time as youth team manager and reserve team manager between 2004 and 2008.

Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochenttino, Zinedine Zidane and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho are all rated highly in the bookmakers odds. Former Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez rated a 40/1 to make what would be a controversial return to Stamford Bridge after he helped the Blues to a Europa League Final win during a six-month spell as interim manager in 2013.