Chelsea have reportedly already drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace the axed Graham Potter. The Blues had apparently been considering who could replace Potter before they sacked their head coach on Sunday evening.

Potter was sacked after a dismal run of form that was culminated by Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa. Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi – incidentally Potter’s replacement at Brighton in September – have been linked while the 47-year-old has struggled at Stamford Bridge.

Both are supposedly on a three-man shortlist drawn up by the club’s hierarchy recently. Julian Nagelsmann – who was sacked by Bayern Munich a fortnight ago – has reportedly been considered more recently.

Chelsea will battle with London rivals Tottenham for all three coaches. Spurs sacked Antonio Conte last week and are yet to appoint the Italian’s replacement.

Chelsea have sacked Graham Potter after a miserable run (Image: Getty)

Chelsea are reportedly keen on Mauricio Pochettino (Image: Getty)

According to the Independent, Chelsea had recently drawn up their three-man shortlist ‘in case the worst happened’. They have now twisted the knife on Potter despite co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali offering strong public support as recently as late February.

Chelsea will reportedly not rush into appointing Potter’s successor and there is apparently hope among club chiefs that interim boss Bruno Saltor will lift momentum through to the end of the season. The man entrusted with replacing Potter in the short term is a former Brighton full-back who worked closely with the sacked tactician as part of his backroom staff.

Former Brighton boss Potter has become the fourth Premier League manager to be sacked in the last fortnight. Patrick Vieira was shown the door at Crystal Palace just a couple of days before Conte departed Spurs.

Roberto De Zerbi could replace Graham Potter yet again (Image: Getty)

Chelsea could battle Tottenham for Julian Nagelsmann (Image: Getty)

On Sunday, Leicester parted ways with Brendan Rodgers after the Foxes’s 2-1 defeat at Palace left them rooted in the relegation zone. There have now been 12 managerial sackings in the top flight this season – a record since the league’s inception in 1992.

The trigger-happy nature of Premier League clubs is epitomised by De Zerbi – who replaced Potter at Brighton after the latter joined Chelsea in September – being the league’s 11th longest-serving head coach. The Italian could now be strongly linked with the Stamford Bridge vacancy a mere seven months after being appointed by the Seagulls.

Chelsea announced Potter had agreed to a ‘smooth transition’ to leave the club on Sunday. In a lengthy statement, the club said: “Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club. Graham has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition.

“In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter-final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid. Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future. Bruno Saltor will take charge of the team as interim head coach.”