Chelsea officially appoint Mauricio Pochettino as ex-Tottenham boss returns to Premier League

Chelsea have finally confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager.

talkSPORT revealed in April that the 51-year-old had agreed to become the Blues' next boss.

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However, Frank Lampard continued as interim boss until the end of the season before Pochettino will assume control on July 1.

He has been handed a two-year deal, with the option of a third year.

His staff will include Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino.

The Argentine has been out of work since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain last year after just 18 months at Parc des Princes.

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And he will be returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2019 after being axed by Tottenham just months after guiding the club to the Champions League final.

But he will have to make do without any European football next season, with Chelsea finishing a dismal 12th in the Premier League.

Though, in what could prove to be a good omen, the last time the Blues finished outside the top six, they won the Premier League the following campaign.

That came in the 2016/17 term, where Antonio Conte guided them to top spot after a tenth-placed finish the previous year.

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talkSPORT also understands that Pochettino has identified a new striker and goalkeeper to be his top priorities.

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Only three teams have scored fewer than Chelsea's 36 top-flight goals this season, while Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy have both struggled between the sticks.

Spurs' all-time top scorer Harry Kane has been linked, but there are reservations that they would sell to their rivals.

The Blues have instead put Napoli striker Victor Osimhen at the top of their wishlist.

He scored 25 goals on their way to the Serie A title, but the Italian club have set a price tag of £125m.

Pochettino will need to trim down Chelsea's bloated squad, however, with five academy products in line for transfers.

They include Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah and Callum Hudson-Odoi.