Potential Consequences of Chelsea appointing Nuno Espirito Santo.

According to The Sun, Chelsea are lining up Wolves’ Nuno Espirito Santo to replace Maurizio Sarri at the end of the season, with Blues legend Frank Lampard also being considered.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy had reportedly been hopeful of landing Zinedine Zidane but, in a shock turn of events, the Frenchman was reinstated at the Real Madrid helm, replacing Santiago Solari; it was back to the drawing board for Chelsea, but they’ve now identified their next manager.

Neapolitan Sarri will only be given the boot earlier than the summer if the Blues’ top-four charge capitulates and if they are dumped out of the Europa League – regardless, it would seem that his days in West London are numbered.

Nuno has surely been catching the attention of the top six after leading his newly-promoted Wolves side to seventh in the standings and it seems that Chelsea could swoop in the summer.

What are the potential consequences, then, of the Portuguese moving south to Stamford Bridge? Read on to find out.

Conte’s formation restored

Antonio Conte won the title with the Blues in his first year at the club and with his side conceding just 33 goals and scoring 85 in the 2016/17 season, looked to have struck tactical gold with his 3-4-3 approach.

Things quickly went wrong, though, and the Italian was – perhaps harshly – given the boot. Since, Chelsea have returned to a more orthodox 4-3-3 under Sarri but if Nuno is appointed in the summer, then we could see the return of a Conte-esque approach.

Midlands outfit Wolves have been nothing short of excellent this season and are enduring all the success in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez leading the line brilliantly. It’s likely that the former goalkeeper would have some form of desire to trial this approach at a top-six club and Chelsea undoubtedly have the personnel for it to be effective.

Moses back in the starting XI

There has been no place for Victor Moses in Sarri’s plans this season, with Cesar Azpilicueta holding the right-back spot down. The aforementioned Conte revived the Nigerian winger when he took the helm, deploying the previously bit-part man as a wing-back, where he excelled.

The 28-year-old made 34 league appearances for the Blues in their title-winning campaign and then 28 the year after, but has recently joined the healthy cohort of loanees at Stamford Bridge – the former Crystal Palace and Wigan man completed a temporary switch to Fenerbahce in January.

It currently looks unlikely that he’ll feature for Chelsea again while Sarri is at the wheel but Nuno would  see use in the versatile wide-man. The Blues’ Matt Doherty perhaps?

Giroud stays

Olivier Giroud has made no secret of his dissatisfaction at Stamford Bridge since Gonzalo Higuain was signed on loan in January and looks destined to deputise for the Argentine until the end of the season, when it looks likely he will seek pastures new anyway.

The former Arsenal man is one of the most under-appreciated players in the Premier League and it’s remarkable that he doesn’t feature more in the domestic competition considering he has chalked up nine goals and two assists in nine Europa League games – the 32-year-old has been afforded just 685 league minutes from 21 appearances.

The towering striker might not be the most mobile forward but he does get the absolute best out of the players around him; just ask Eden Hazard, who labelled his teammate the best target man in the world earlier in the season.

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Wolves have their own Giroud at Molineux in Raul Jimenez – the Mexican is equally happy to tee up for others as he is to score himself and has seven assists to his name this season.

The World Cup winner could well be persuaded to stay in West London if Nuno is appointed as he fits perfectly into the system the Portuguese would likely look to install.

(Potential Consequences of Chelsea appointing Nuno Espirito Santo)