Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Graham Potter on a five-year deal this afternoon, with the Englishman replacing Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.

The dust has barely settled on Tuchel's surprise departure, but Todd Boehly has wasted no time in bringing in the German's successor, with Potter's impressive work at Brighton & Hove Albion earning him a chance at a club that won the Champions League just last year.

The 47-year-old will be in the Chelsea dugout for Saturday's West London derby against Fulham, when he will look to get the Blues back to winning ways following their defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in midweek.

Here, the Sports Mole team discuss whether Potter is the right man for the job.

Barney Corkhill, Editor

The manner of Tuchel's sacking suggested that not much had changed at Stamford Bridge since the ruthless days of Roman Abramovich's reign, but this appointment does point at a switch in philosophy by the new owners.

Choosing a young(ish) English manager who did not enjoy a playing career of much distinction and who began his managerial journey in the Swedish fourth tier is a far cry from some of the higher-profile names which have preceded Potter in the hot seat.

A five-year contract also suggests that they view him as a long-term appointment and are willing to give him time - although who really knows with Chelsea? - so I am fascinated to see how it works out for them. It certainly seems like a risk for the Blues, and for Potter himself.

The Englishman worked wonders at Ostersunds, taking them from the fourth tier to the Europa League, and he has done a stellar job at Brighton too, leaving the Seagulls fourth in the Premier League table. His playing style has been eye-catching, and the thought of what he could do with over £250m worth of new arrivals should excite Chelsea fans.

However, there are also reasons to be cautious; this is a man who both lost and drew more games than he won at Brighton, ending his time at the Amex with a win percentage of just 31.1%. He has never managed in the Champions League nor come particularly close to major silverware, and he has never dealt with a particularly big-name player either, so at the very highest level he remains an unknown quantity.

He has never won more than five games in a row across all competitions at any of his clubs, and it was not too long ago that Brighton were booed off the field with him at the helm.

Only time will tell whether Potter is ready to step up to the challenge, and the reason it is a risk for him is that a disastrous spell could damage a carefully-forged reputation which had seen him linked with the England job when Gareth Southgate steps down.

For me, Chelsea were never going to get anyone better than Tuchel - Zinedine Zidane is waiting for the France job and Mauricio Pochettino is arguably a step down from the sacked Chelsea boss - but the fact that they have gone in such a different direction makes it one of the more intriguing managerial appointments at a 'big six' club that I can remember.

Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter

Even though Graham Potter lacks experience at the highest level and is yet to win a major trophy as a manager, the Englishman has a plethora of qualities that Chelsea fans can get excited about.

After guiding Swedish side Ostersunds FK from the fourth tier to the Europa League, Potter has since impressed in English football with Swansea and Brighton, guiding the latter to their highest-ever top-flight finish last term.

Potter's attractive brand of football, astute business in the transfer market and nous in developing young players has caught the eye of many in recent years, and it only seemed a matter of time before an elite club came knocking.

The 47-year-old shaped the culture at Brighton to fit his philosophy and that is what is required at Chelsea, with an array of fresh faces and an ambitious new owner at Stamford Bridge.

While the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane may have been preferred picks by some, Potter deserves his chance to make the next step in his career at a club who seem to have the foundations in place for him to flourish.

Joel Lefevre, Reporter

If you judge a manager solely on the number of trophies they have won, then Graham Potter might not be high on your list of quality coaches. While the 47-year-old does not have the accolades of other big-name bosses like Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp or even his predecessor at Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, you would be hard pressed to find many people around the game with a bad word to say about him.

Moving to Chelsea will mean Potter will have the weight of expectations on his shoulders to capture some silverware. Being a formidable opponent whom fans and players respect will not be good enough at Stamford Bridge. At worst, the standard with the Blues will be to finish in a top-four position in the Premier League.

Potter will be expected to have the Blues consistently competing for championships every season, something he never had to deal with at Brighton. Potter's tactics of utilising his wing-backs while stretching the field when on the ball could be a more desirable way for the Blues to play.

I like his appointment as he brings a calm demeanour and has a proven track record of getting the best out of his players. Chelsea need a fresh perspective, someone more relaxed, who can relate to these players, and for me, Potter possesses all of those qualities and more.