After firing Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday, September 8, Chelsea declared Potter their No. 1 priority and swiftly obtained permission from Brighton to talk with him. A substantial compensation payment, estimated at around £16 million, will be necessary.
Potter is currently completing contract details and will be in the Chelsea dugout with his Brighton staff for the Blues’ encounter against Fulham on Saturday.
The contract for Graham Potter to become Chelsea’s new manager has been verbally agreed upon.
The Seagulls manager was set to speak to the media ahead of his current side’s Premier League match against Bournemouth on Thursday, and it is expected that he will discuss his departure from the club.
Potter quickly rose to the top of Chelsea’s transfer target list, and he was in advanced talks with the Blues on Wednesday night, hoping to strike a deal.
Chelsea is considering ex-Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards and ex-Tottenham and Southampton recruitment guru Paul Mitchell for the position.
Potter, 47, is understood to have a contract release clause worth at least £12 million, leaving Brighton powerless to stop him from leaving.
Potter is anticipated to be followed by Brighton personnel such as recruitment analyst Kyle Macaulay and first-team coach Billy Reid.
Tuchel was fired on Wednesday, just hours after Chelsea suffered their third defeat in seven games, a 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb.
‘As the new ownership group continues to work hard to lead the club forward, the new owners believe now is the right time to make this transition,’ according to a Chelsea statement.
Chelsea, who are currently sixth in the Premier League, will be expecting for an immediate boost from Potter’s arrival in order to revive their domestic and Champions League campaigns.