Chelsea are keeping an eye on Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti amid uncertainty over under-fire Graham Potter’s future at the club, according to Italian outlet Il Mattino.
Despite reports claiming that the Chelsea owners and board remain supportive of Potter’s long-term project, recent history suggests a manager is never truly safe at Stamford Bridge.
The next three games for Chelsea; derbies against Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United and the second-leg match against Borussia Dortmund, are difficult and disappointing results could change the board’s stance.
Regardless of the outcome, it makes sense for Chelsea to draw up a list of potential replacements, and according to Il Matttino, Spalletti is one of them.
The 63-year-old is doing incredibly well this season, leading Napoli to an 18-point lead in Serie A.
The successful campaign has reportedly attracted interest from several clubs that could be in the market for a new manager soon.
The report mentions Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs monitoring Spalletti’s contract situation.
Spalletti signed a two-year deal with Napoli in 2021, but with an option for a third and a fourth year.
Obviously, Napoli are expected to trigger the clause, but this has not stopped many clubs from paying high compensation to secure their preferred manager.
Chelsea, for example, reportedly paid Brighton a record £22million for Potter and his staff in September.
But would Spalletti be the right man to lead Chelsea’s project?
The Italian has not had a proven record in leading long-term projects and despite this season’s likely scudetto, he has not won any major trophy in the last decade.
The former arguably makes him an unlikely target for Chelsea, who even sacked fan-favourite Thomas Tuchel, in favour of a project coach, Potter.
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