Paul Merson has voiced his belief that Chelsea may no longer attract elite-level managers and has urged the club to appoint Eddie Howe as their next permanent head coach. The former Arsenal star spoke following Chelsea's decision to sack Liam Rosenior after just 106 days in charge, with the Blues suffering five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring a single goal.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane impresses
Calum McFarlane has taken temporary charge until the end of the season and oversaw an immediate improvement in performance as Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday to book their place in the FA Cup final. Despite this positive result, attention has quickly turned to finding a long-term successor.
Andoni Iraola under consideration
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is one of the names being considered by Chelsea's hierarchy, with the Spaniard set to leave the Cherries when his contract expires at the end of the season. However, Merson believes Eddie Howe represents a more realistic and suitable option for the club in its current state.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Merson said: 'I hear a few Newcastle fans saying Eddie Howe is under pressure. I'd take Eddie Howe. My problem is at Chelsea now and the way it is and the way it's all run, I think they'll be getting a manager who is grateful to be managing Chelsea, instead of a top drawer manager.'
Decline in managerial allure
Merson argued that the days of Chelsea attracting managers of the calibre of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Thomas Tuchel, and Carlo Ancelotti are over. He added: 'The days of your Mourinho, Contes, Tuchels, Ancelotti's those top, top managers where the club are grateful for them being the manager of the club. I think now they're looking at managers who are grateful to come in and manage Chelsea because of the way they run the club and the way it is.'
Merson acknowledged Iraola's quality but questioned whether any top manager would want the job given the scale of the task. He pointed out that Chelsea have been outrun in every single Premier League game this season despite having one of the youngest squads in the division. 'For them to get outrun in every single game and top, top managers will look at that and think there is a lot to be done,' he said.
Howe's credentials and Newcastle pressure
Eddie Howe is currently under mounting criticism at Newcastle United following a poor run of form, but Merson believes he would be a good fit for Chelsea. 'They need a couple of experienced players and a few who shouldn't be there. This is a big, big job and I'm not sure one of the big boys will take it,' Merson concluded.
Other names linked with the Chelsea job include Filipe Luis, Cesc Fabregas, Oliver Glasner, Xavi Hernandez, Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Silva, Unai Emery, Frank Lampard, and Fabian Hurzeler, according to betting odds from Betfair.
