Chelsea are in advanced talks to hire Mauricio Pochettino as manager. Pochettino could take the job before the end of the season and replace Frank Lampard, who is serving as interim.

Pochettino, 51, has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season.

Julian Nagelsmann and Pochettino were regarded as initial favorites of the club's owners, Clearlake Capital. Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim and Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti were also considered by Chelsea.

Pochettino was interviewed for the Manchester United manager's job last season and made the final two before missing out on the post to Erik ten Hag. 

Tottenham Hotspur have fired interim manager Cristian Stellini following a 6-1 loss to Newcastle. Ryan Mason will take over on an interim basis.

Spurs were 5-0 down within 21 minutes at St. James' Park.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement: "Sunday's performance against Newcastle was wholly unacceptable. It was devastating to see. We can look at many reasons why it happened and whilst myself, the board, the coaches and players must all take collective responsibility, ultimately the responsibility is mine.

"Cristian will leave his current role along with his coaching staff. Cristian stepped in at a difficult point in our season and I want to thank him for the professional manner in which he and his coaching staff have conducted themselves during such a challenging time. We wish him and his staff well.

"Ryan Mason will take over head coach duties with immediate effect. Ryan knows the club and the players well. We shall update further on his coaching staff in due course.

"I met with the Player Committee today -- the squad is determined to pull together to ensure the strongest possible finish to the season. We are all clear we need to deliver performances which earn your amazing support."

Vincent Kompany has emerged as a candidate to become the next manager of Chelsea.

Kompany retired from his playing career in 2020. After two years managing Anderlecht, he has been in England for less than one season, a hugely impressive promotion-winning campaign with Championship side Burnley.

Julian Nagelsmann has withdrawn his named from consideration as Chelsea searches for its next manager.

Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Vincent Kompany and an unnamed candidate made Chelsea's four-man shortlist.

Nagelsmann met with Chelsea executives in recent days for a series of talks which initially progressed well, but he became frustrated as the club was adamant about  conducting a lengthy and exhaustive search.

Manchester City are preparing a new contract offer for Erling Haaland after a release clause in his current contract was removed.

Haaland joined City from Borussia Dortmund last summer for the relatively low transfer fee of £51.2million, which was inserted into his contract when he agreed to move to Germany from Red Bull Salzburg in December 2019.

Haaland's contract would allow him to leave City in the summer of 2024 for £150 million. But the clause was canceled when Pep Guardiola renewed his contract through 2025.

Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the front runner to become the next manager of Chelsea after impressing during initial talks.

Nagelsmann made a positive impression during a meeting with the club’s sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, last week and he has support from the co-owner Behdad Eghbali.

Chelsea are keeping their options open and have made contact with Mauricio Pochettino, who has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer. 

West Ham has identified Paulo Fonseca as a potential replacement at manager for David Moyes.

The club has yet to make a final decision on Moyes, but are widely expected to fire him in the summer. West Ham are just four points above the relegation zone.

Fonseca favors an attacking style and was close to joining West Ham in 2018.

Jurgen Klopp insisted he is not angry with the owners of Liverpool after they bowed out of the race to sign Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham had long been linked to Liverpool, but the reality is they will be unable to afford him and he will likely end up with either Real Madrid or Manchester City.

Chelsea’s Mason Mount, Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, Matheus Nunes of Wolves and Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich are of interest to Klopp.

“I am not angry [with the owners],” Klopp said. “I don’t agree with everything we do but I am employed here and I am not here to be angry about things that will work out or not work out. If I am angry, we won’t all of a sudden have more money and resources to do everything. The way we did things in the past is the way we will do it in the future – that’s the way.

“I cannot change that; nobody could change that. We were pretty successful with that. That we didn’t win the four trophies last year, had nothing to do with the transfer market, that we didn’t sign enough players. Maybe some people would think if we signed certain players, we’d have a point more.”

Chelsea have offered a new contract to Mason Mount as he is on the verge of being able to leave the club on a free transfer.

There have been no tangible progress over the past two months on an extension.

Mount is being monitored by Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Mount is seeking a £250,000-a-week deal.

The club want to keep Mount but also need to trim their squad and ensure compliance with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton.

Mac Allister has a deal that runs until June 2025, with an additional one-year option for Brighton, signed weeks before he went to the World Cup. 

Mac Allister was a key part of Argentina's World Cup win.