Paul Merson backs Brendan Rodgers to be next Chelsea manager

Brendan Rodgers, according to Paul Merson, is the ideal candidate to succeed Graham Potter at Chelsea.

On Sunday, ruthless US owner Todd Boehly fired Blues manager Graham Potter.

Rodgers was fired by relegation-threatened Leicester hours earlier on the same day, after conceding a sucker punch stoppage-time goal in a 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Merson, 50, leaves the Foxes second-bottom of the Premier League and in relegation trouble, admitting that things went ‘horribly wrong’ at the Midlands club.

Regardless, the former Arsenal and England midfielder told Sky Sports that he believes Rodgers is the right man for the job at Stamford Bridge.

‘I’d like to see Brendan Rodgers at Chelsea,’ he said. Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of mine. Leicester, unfortunately, has gone horribly wrong. It all comes down to timing in football, and let’s be honest: if Leicester were where Brighton is now, everyone would be calling for Rodgers to leave for Chelsea.

‘Rodgers checks all the boxes; he plays on the front foot, he began his coaching career at Chelsea and is well-versed in the club. Chelsea supporters will wonder why they should turn to a manager who was recently fired by Leicester.

‘However, when you look at the big picture, Rodgers is a good manager who has worked at top clubs like Liverpool and Celtic, won trophies at Leicester, and has them on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League. I simply believe Rodgers is the one.’

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

Former Tottenham manager Pochettino is one of the Blues’ top targets to replace Potter, with the Argentine admired by the club.

Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, and Roberto De Zerbi – of whom only De Zerbi currently has a club, Brighton – are also in the running.

However, Boehly and company are not in a hurry to appoint someone, reportedly planning a ‘exhaustive’ search for their next manager.

Potter could, ironically, replace Rodgers at Leicester.