Marucio Pochettino has signed his contract and will become Chelsea’s next permanent manager (Picture: Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino will be confirmed as Chelsea’s next permanent manager within the next 48 hours.

The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss has now signed a contract ahead of the ailing west London club’s final game of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Frank Lampard will take charge of a team destined to finish as low as 14th in the table one final time this afternoon against Newcastle, bringing down the curtain on a miserable season.

According to the Telegraph, Pochettino has signed a three-year deal and will quickly get to work, trimming a bloated squad that has become close to unmangeable.

As many as six senior players are reported to have told the club they wish to leave in the close season, while Pochettino will also make a late attempt to convince Mason Mount to commit his future to his boyhood club.

The England international is set to enter the final 12 months of his contract and with a resolution not forthcoming, Manchester United are ready to test Chelsea’s resolve with an opening £55million offer.

Lampard was asked to sum up the task that awaits Pochettino after Thursday night’s miserable 4-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford and the interim boss conceded it would be far from straightforward.

He said: ‘It remains to be seen, but I can’t jump into the future. I think it’s a fantastic job because it’s the Chelsea job.

‘When I took it, the first time I came, I probably got the job because a lot of top manager’s didn’t want the job.

‘I know that for a fact, it was a big part of it, but I enjoy the process and I enjoy coming in.

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‘I wish the new manager well. It’s his problem, I guess,” before jokingly telling reporters: “Is that the headline you wanted?

More to follow…

A formal announcement will be made in the next 48 hours.