The almost impossible Chelsea manager summer swoop that would break the internet

An entire season, a whole reputation, could rest on this one game. It's just a shame that it happens to be against the very best team in the country. Perhaps the world. Mauricio Pochettino leads his Chelsea side into their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City next month like Adam Sandler ferreting into the final act of Uncut Gems, resting all or nothing on the bounce of a ball, the composition of an LED scoreboard. If you haven't seen Uncut Gems, I won't spoil the ending for you, but needless to say, Poch should be nervous.

You see, despite the painfully obvious need for patience at Stamford Bridge, Todd Boehly and his cattle drive of trigger happy associates have shown very little of it since arriving in West London a couple of years back. Chelsea's owners have painted themselves into a proverbial corner by spending the kind of money that necessitates immediate results, but thus far, have failed to stumble across a manager with the alchemical knack required to turn their patchwork squad into silverware.

Fail to beat City at Wembley, and Chelsea will ensure that they do not win a trophy this season. Coupled with the overwhelming likelihood of a mid-table finish in the Premier League, as well as the recent Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool, and Poch could quite easily go the way of Graham Potter. Or Thomas Tuchel.

Which brings us to something rather odd, because according to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Tuchel could well be the man parachuted back in to replace the Argentine if and when he is ousted. It is understood that the current Bayern Munich manager has 'never ruled out a return' to West London, and that he still very much has the Blues 'in his sights'.

Certainly, a Stamford Bridge homecoming would be quite the sensational turn of events. There were plenty of Chelsea supporters who felt that Tuchel was unfairly relieved of his duties in the first place, and the club's subsequent downwards spiral has seemingly vindicated that stance. Plenty more would likely welcome him back with open arms.

It is not wholly impossible either. Tuchel will leave his post with Bayern at the end of the season after a tricky campaign that could very well end without a single piece of silverware. In Bavaria, that is simply unforgivable. The sudden and unexpected nature of Tuchel's unemployment might afford Chelsea an opportunity to pounce, and to rekindle a working relationship that many will have accepted as done and dusted.

That being said, there are great, hulking reasons to harbour doubts. For one thing, Tuchel is likely to be a man in demand; in the Premier League alone, Manchester United have been touted as a potential destination for the 50-year-old, and there will almost certainly be interest from the continent too.

Then, of course, there are the smouldering ruins of bridges previously burned. Realistically, could Tuchel properly trust ever Boehly again? Could he overlook the manner in which he was unceremoniously kicked to the curb, or for that matter, the sorry state that Chelsea currently find themselves in? Only he will know the answer to those questions for sure, but if, by some minor miracle, he does return to Chelsea in the coming months, make no mistake, it will be one of the stories of the summer.