In the public eye, it seems as if Chelsea are still confident that Graham Potter can turn things around and become a success at Stamford Bridge.

However, reports from behind the scenes suggest that Todd Boehly has already begun his search for a potential successor to the former Brighton boss, with Mauricio Pochettino the latest manager to be linked with a move to Chelsea.

Could Chelsea appoint Mauricio Pochettino?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea have now made contact with the former Tottenham and Southampton boss about taking over at Stamford Bridge.

The 50-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in July and would reportedly welcome a return to Premier League management, although he did turn down Aston Villa when they approached him earlier in the season.

Pochettino still has a house in London from his time working as Spurs boss, so a move could certainly suit the Argentine, and he is said to be keen to take over should Chelsea pull the trigger on Potter.

Sunday's defeat against Pochettino's old side left Chelsea without a win in all competitions since their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in January, with finding the back of the net a real issue for the Blues despite their significant investment on attacking players in the winter transfer window.

If Potter's side were to be knocked out of the Champions League when they face Borussia Dortmund next week in the return leg, it would surely spell the end of their hopes of achieving European football for next season, so Pochettino may not have to wait too long if he wants to succeed the 47-year-old Englishman at Stamford Bridge.

Would Pochettino be an upgrade on Potter?

While Potter has excelled on a small budget in the past, he has looked lost when handed almost unlimited funds, and Pochettino's experience at the top level suggests that he could be a big upgrade at Chelsea.

Since joining Chelsea, Potter has averaged a disappointing 1.31 points per game, something which Pochettino has bettered with Southampton, Spurs, and PSG.

While he was sacked by the French giants, the coach did still lead them to a Ligue 1 title last season, so he seemingly knows how to get a tune out of world-class players, having worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar.

Pochettino was dubbed "world-class" by talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara after leading Spurs to the Champions League final during his time in London.

His success in Europe with Tottenham and his three trophies with PSG show that he can effectively manage a team at the top level, whereas Potter is yet to win a trophy outside of Sweden and his aforementioned points per game rate indicates that the Englishman is struggling badly.

Therefore, the experienced Argentine could be exactly what Chelsea need to turn their fortunes around and get the best out of this talented squad as the tactician has been there and done it - making him a big upgrade on their current boss.