Julian Nagelsmann‘s agent has claimed the former Bayern Munich manager was Chelsea‘s No 1 choice to take over at Stamford Bridge this summer, ahead of the incoming Mauricio Pochettino.

Nagelsmann pulled out of the race for the Blues job in April after growing frustrated with the process – leaving the door open for Pochettino’s return to the Premier League.

Pochettino, the former Tottenham boss, has agreed terms with Chelsea and is set to fly into London to sign a three-year deal in the coming days.

But, speaking on Bild’s podcast Phrasenmaher, Volker Struth has claimed Nagelsmann was right to turn down a ‘club in troubled waters’.

He also dismissed Chelsea as a club ‘spending a few hundred million euros’ to fix their issues and hinted there would be ‘expectations’ that he’d have to have meet as a result.

Julian Nagelsmann’s agent claims the former Bayern Munich boss was Chelsea ‘s No 1 choice

Nagelsmann pulled out of the race in April, leaving the door open for Mauricio Pochettino (left)

Struth said that Nagelsmann was right to turn down the Blues – a ‘club in troubled waters’

The 57-year-old agent said: ‘I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call [after Nagelsmann’s dismissal at Bayern Munich]. There were some phone conversations.

‘It was the right decision [by Nagelsmann] not to go there. It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment.

‘And their transfer policy, spending a few hundred million euros, has raised expectations that need to be met. There were also some other issues.

‘He was their number one [choice], that was our information. I believe it would have happened if he had wanted it.’

However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea have refuted such claims – acknowledging their interest in Nagelsmann but denying he was their first choice.

Their stance comes shortly after it was revealed Pochettino had agreed to become the next Chelsea manager.

Pochettino (above) will jet to Spain to sign what is believed to be a three-year contract

Pochettino will bring assistant manager Jesus Perez (right) and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez (left) with him to Chelsea, who he worked with previously at Tottenham

Pochettino will jet in from Spain to complete the deal that will see him appointed Chelsea’s new head coach.

The Argentine will put pen to paper on what is believed to be a three-year contract to replace current interim boss Frank Lampard.

The 51-year-old negotiated his own contract and is waiting for the green light from his lawyer before signing the paperwork.

Meanwhile, Nagelsmann has been out of action since March – when he was sacked at the Bayern Munich boss and replaced with Thomas Tuchel.

Source: dailymail.co.uk