Graham Potter's England links are good news for Chelsea – he will save them a lot of money

Chelsea's decision-makers will be praying that Graham Potter is offered the England job.

Potter has been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge in April 2023 after spending less than seven months in charge, but is still being paid.

As part of that separation, Chelsea He will still provide Potter with his £200,000-a-week salary until October this year.

The Blues will still be obliged to pay this amount unless Potter accepts an offer from elsewhere, a situation which means his new salary would be deducted from that £200,000 total that Chelsea will pay.

Potter remains linked with the English team following Gareth Southgate's decision to resign.

Southgate earned around £5m a year in charge (around £100,000 a week) during his nearly eight years in charge of the national team.

That means if Potter were to take the job on the same salary as Southgate, Chelsea would save around £1m.

Potter was asked about the England vacancy on Thursday but refused to be given the job on the pitch.

After accepting an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University – his former university – he said: “I don't think today is the day to talk about that. Gareth has done a fantastic job.

“I don't think there is anyone in the country more respected in football than Gareth.

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“I think he and his team led the country in a really good way and I have enormous respect for him.

“And today is the day to wish him a good rest because he deserves it. And to wish him the best in everything he does in this part of his career.”

Potter is one of the candidates being considered, along with with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and victorious European Under-21 Championship-winning coach Lee Carsley.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is also believed to have admirers within the FA.