Chelsea: Paul Merson backs Brendan Rodgers to be next Blues manager

Paul Merson has claimed Brendan Rodgers is the perfect man to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea.

Graham Potter was sacked as Blues manager on Sunday by ruthless US owner Todd Boehly. 

Rodgers was axed hours earlier on the same day by relegation-threatened Leicester, after conceding a sucker punch stoppage-time goal which saw them lose 2-1 against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman, 50, leaves the Foxes second-bottom of the Premier League and deep in relegation trouble, with Merson admitting things went ‘horribly wrong’ with the Midlands club.

Despite that, the former Arsenal and England midfielder told Sky Sports that he backs Rodgers as the right person to take over at Stamford Bridge.

Paul Merson claims Brendan Rodgers is the perfect man to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea

Rodgers was sacked by Leicester on Sunday, hours before Potter (right) was fired by the Blues

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Despite pundit Merson (pictured) admitting things went ‘horribly wrong’ with the Foxes, he still backs Northern Irishman Rodgers – a former Chelsea coach – to take over at Stamford Bridge

He said: ‘I would like to see Brendan Rodgers in at Chelsea… I’m a big Brendan Rodgers fan. Unfortunately, things have gone horribly wrong at Leicester. In football it all comes down to timing, and let’s be honest, if Leicester were where Brighton are now, everyone would be calling for Rodgers to go to Chelsea. 

‘Rodgers ticks every box; he plays on the front foot, he started his coaching career at Chelsea and knows the club. Chelsea fans will question why they should turn to a manager who has just been sacked by Leicester.

‘But if you look at the all-round picture, Rodgers is a good manager who has worked at top clubs like Liverpool and Celtic, won trophies at Leicester and put them on the brink of Champions League qualification. I just think Rodgers is the one.’

Rodgers spent four years at the King Power, twice narrowly missing out on a top-four finish which would have given them Champions League football, and beating Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 2021. 

Former Tottenham boss Pochettino is among the west London side’s top targets to replace Potter, with the Argentine admired by the Blues.

Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto De Zerbi – of which only De Zerbi, at Brighton, have a club at the moment – are also in contention. 

However, Boehly and Co are in no rush to appoint someone as they reportedly plan an ‘exhaustive’ search for their next manager. 

Perhaps ironically, Potter could replace Rodgers at Leicester.