Chelsea 'offered chance to hire 49-year-old as Pochettino replacement'

Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to appoint Porto boss Sergio Conceicao as their new head coach.

The Blues are on the lookout for a new manager after it was confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino had left his role by mutual consent.

In his solitary season at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine led the club to the EFL Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals as well as securing European qualification via a sixth-placed finish.

Chelsea showed great consistency in the final few weeks of the season, putting together a five-game winning run to end the campaign on a high note.

However, a decision was ultimately made for the two parties to go their separate ways following an end-of-season review.

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Mendes offers Chelsea chance to appoint Conceicao

Chelsea have been linked with several candidates following Tuesday's announcement, including Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna and Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness.

A recent report has also claimed that Chelsea are considering Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as a potential option for their managerial vacancy.

According to The Mirror, super-agent Jorge Mendes has put another name forward for the Chelsea job, recommending his client Conceicao as a possible replacement for Pochettino.

Conceicao recently signed a new deal until June 2028, but that deal can be revoked as it was signed under Porto's former president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.

Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has since replaced Pinto da Costa and is expected to hold formal talks with Conceicao over his future following Sunday's Taca de Portugal final against Sporting Lisbon.

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Is Conceicao a realistic candidate?

While Mendes has put his client forward, there is currently no indication as to whether Chelsea are considering Conceicao as a viable candidate.

The 49-year-old has proven his managerial credentials in his seven-year stay as Porto boss, leading the club to three Primeira Liga titles, three Taca de Portugal trophies, one Taca da Liga and three Portuguese Super Cups.

There are no guarantees that he will be at the Estadio do Dragao next season, having been linked with AC Milan and Marseille in recent weeks.

However, Conceicao does not seem to fit the profile of Chelsea's preferred candidate, with co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital believed to be on the lookout for an up-and-coming manager who would be willing to work within a defined structure.