Assessing which German speaking manager is best suited to Chelsea
Frank Lampard is increasingly looking like he will be next manager to be sacked in the Premier League.
Despite Chelsea spending over £200m on a host of top talent in the summer, Lampard is seriously struggling to get a tune out of his players.
The Blues' have only won twice in their last seven Premier League games, with their most recent 2-0 defeat to Leicester starkly revealing the chasm between themselves and those vying for the title.
Reports suggest that if Roman Abramovich does pull the trigger, he is looking to target a German speaking coach, in an attempt to get the best out of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. The question is: which of these Germanic coaches is best suited to being the next Chelsea manager? We took a look.
5. Thomas Tuchel
After being dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain, Thomas Tuchel is in the market for his next project.
While he definitely ticks the 'German speaking' box, it is hard to envisage him as the next Chelsea manager.
It is not that Tuchel is a bad coach, far from it. He came closer than any manager to ending the Parisians' Champions League hoodoo and also steadied the ship following Jurgen Klopp's departure from Borussia Dortmund.
The bigger issue is his propensity to pick fights with the board, which he has done publicly during his time at both PSG and Dortmund. Managers who clash with Abramovich do not tend to last long.
4. Ralf Rangnick
After the plug was pulled on his move to Milan in the summer, Ralf Rangnick is still on the market.
During his time as director of football at both Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig in the 2010s, Rangnick oversaw one of the most successful recruitment policies in footballing history.
His reputation as an executive is legendary, but he is also a talented coach, enjoying two successful stints with Leipzig, as well as a leading Schalke to second in the Bundesliga 15 years ago.
Rangnick's appointment would be a fascinating one and he has previously coached Werner, who scored 19 Bundesliga goals in 37 under him during the 2018/2019 campaign. However, his appointment seems unlikely for the similar reasons as Tuchel. It is difficult to imagine him accepting a humble coaching position after years of enjoying the power of heading up an entire footballing empire at Red Bull.
3. Peter Bosz
Bayer Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz is highly rated and has long been tipped for a move to a top European side.
If he is appointed the next Chelsea manager, the neutrals will be happy, as the Dutchman encourages his teams to play an attractive, high octane brand of football.
Havertz would also be pleased. It was under Bosz that the 21-year-old played the best stuff of his career to date, and if the Blues are serious about unlocking the starlet's potential, he could prove to be a solid appointment. Bosz has also had dealings with Chelsea before, dating back to his time as Vitesse manager, who the Blues have used as a feeder club for over 10 years.
Despite all of this, he is lacking experience at the top level. When he took over at Dortmund in 2017, he floundered badly, lasting a matter of months before being given the boot.
2. Ralph Hasenhuttl
Another name linked with Chelsea is Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Just over a year ago, it seemed that big Ralph's time in England was done, after Leicester subjected the Saints to a humiliating 9-0 home loss that left them languishing in the relegation zone. Since then, the Austrian has transformed the south coast club into top four contenders, while also imparting a distinct, tactical philosophy.
He has also worked with Werner before during his time at RB Leipzig between 2016 and 2018. Under Hasenhuttl, Chelsea's new arrival managed 60 goal involvements in 72 appearances, which bodes well if the pair were to link up again at Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps the only thing limiting Hasenhuttl's suitability is that it would likely take some time for him to enact his style. The process took around a season at St. Mary's and with Chelsea already behind in the race for the top four, they may want to look elsewhere.
1. Julian Nagelsmann
One day, sooner or later, Julian Nagelsmann is guaranteed to rock up at a top European club, so why shouldn't Chelsea beat the rush and take the plunge now?
Despite being just 33 years old, the German is already an incredibly talented coach, whose innovative training methods and tactics have led to both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig punching well above their weight in recent Bundesliga seasons.
What's more, Chelsea are understood to be looking for a manager comfortable with possessing limited autonomy over transfers, a culture that Nagelsmann is familiar with from coming through the German coaching system.
If that was not enough to convince you that he is the right man for the Blues, he also has a truly remarkable track record with Werner. Under the young coach, Chelsea's number 11 bagged a staggering 34 goals and 14 assists in 45 appearances last season. Nagelsmann will also be keen to work with Havertz, who he has praised in the past.
He represents the best option if Chelsea are insistent on hiring a German speaking coach.