Julian Nagelsmann‘s agent, Volker Struth, says the former Bayern Munich boss was Chelsea‘s No.1 choice to take over, putting him ahead of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, Nagelsmann pulled out of the race in April after growing frustrated with the process – leaving the door open for Pochettino’s return to the Premier League. 

Pochettino is said to have agreed terms with Chelsea to become their next manager and is set to fly into London to sign a three-year deal in the coming days. 

Speaking on Bild’s podcast Phrasenmaher, Struth said Nagelsmann was right to turn down a ‘club in troubled waters’. 

He said the club are ‘spending a few hundred million euros’ to fix their issues and hinted there would be ‘expectations’ that he’d have to have meet as a result. 

The 57-year-old agent said: ‘I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call [after Nagelsmann’s dismissal at Bayern Munich]. There were some phone conversations. 

‘It was the right decision [by Nagelsmann] not to go there. It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment. 

‘And their transfer policy, spending a few hundred million euros, has raised expectations that need to be met. There were also some other issues.

‘He was their number one [choice], that was our information. I believe it would have happened if he had wanted it.’

However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea have refuted such claims – acknowledging their interest in Nagelsmann but denying he was their first-choice. 

More to follow…