11 April 2023 , 16:14
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River Plate icon Marcelo Gallardo is apparently ‘close’ to being appointed as Chelsea ’s new manager having been given the thumbs up by record signing Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues are currently on the hunt for Graham Potter ’s permanent successor at Stamford Bridge - club icon Frank Lampard having agreed to take the reins until the end of the campaign. A number of names including the likes of Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti and even Zinedine Zidane have been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
It appears that Argentine boss Gallardo could be an option for Todd Boehly as per reports in South America. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, the former River Plate head coach is ‘close’ to joining Chelsea having already been rumoured to be on the club’s shortlist.
He has been rejecting offers from South America recently and sees a switch to the Premier League as the natural next stage of his career. He was in charge at the Estadio Monumental for eight seasons and won a whole host of trophies including the Argentine league title, three Copas America and two Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
Gallardo only left the club in October last year at the end of his contract. Whilst he is in the running to be appointed at Stamford Bridge, it is suggested that he would wait until the summer to officially take control.
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Gallardo, 47, also has a very useful reference from midfielder Enzo Fernandez - the British record transfer having played under him during his stint with River Plate. The midfielder has already given a move the ‘go-ahead’ with Gallardo having acted as a father figure to the former Benfica star.
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez played under Marcelo Gallardo at River Plate (Getty Images)Would Marcelo Gallardo be a good appointment for Chelsea? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Speaking about the midfielder, the former PSG and Monaco star previously said: "He [Fernandez] has evolved a lot, I am very happy that he continues to maintain himself and it is not easy at 21 years old, he has a world ahead of him.
“When praise arrives, it is not easy to remain balanced, he has enormous potential to continue growing with the team [River]. He has been giving us many solutions and the most remarkable thing is that he knows that if he plays for the team he will continue to stand out."
In the meantime, Chelsea interim boss Lampard endured a nightmare start to his second stint in charge of the Blues. They lost 1-0 to relegation candidates Wolves at Molineux on Saturday - Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes netting the decisive goal.
Chelsea are next back in action on Wednesday evening as they take on Spanish giants Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final showdown.
They then take on Graham Potter’s former club Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they attempt to scramble together a late push for a European spot. Chelsea sit in 11th place and seven points off the European places.