Chelsea keen on hiring German manager to replace Frank Lampard
By Max Cooper
Chelsea are considering replacing Frank Lampard with a German coach, as they believe that could bring the best out of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz and many of the current crop of Bundesliga bosses have been influenced heavily by trailblazer Jurgen Klopp.
The Blues coveted the Liverpool boss during his Borussia Dortmund days, and they have had to watch him transform the Reds from an inconsistent Premier League outfit into champions of England and a European force.
And according to The Athletic, the west London club are not willing to miss out on the next biggest influence on European football, especially given German coaches' reputation as being low maintenance when it comes to political power battles.
Chelsea have appointed a string of volatile coaches in the past, with Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri's reigns all ending in controversy. Owner Roman Abramovich is keen to avoid such dramas this time round, and he has settled on a German coach, who can motivate and improve the players at his disposal, as the next in line for the throne.
This decision will likely have been swayed by the success of Liverpool boss Klopp, who has won a Premier League title and a Champions League trophy during his time in England. The 53-year-old has paved the way for German managers in Europe, creating a blueprint for them to follow, and Chelsea believe that 'his disciples boast similar qualities'.
This means the Blues could be eyeing a move for RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last year, or Ralf Rangnick, a man who enjoyed great success with the same side a few years ago.
Southampton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has also been mentioned as a candidate, given his experience in the Bundesliga and his proven track record in the Premier League with the much-improved Saints.
It's not only their desire to avoid confrontation that makes Germany alluring to Abramovich; the club hierarchy are said to believe a German speaker could get the best out of his expensive and misfiring summer investments Havertz and Werner, who enjoyed his best form under Nagelsmann at Leipzig.
It is thought that a German coach would help unlock this struggling duo as they adapt to the Premier League, while the three managers mentioned will also be aware of Christian Pulisic's abilities, after his three years with Dortmund.
Chelsea boss Lampard has failed to get the best out of the summer arrivals, and with the Blues languishing in eighth place in the league off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Leicester City, it appears his time in charge at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end.