Inside Look: Mauricio Pochettino Sets Stage for Astonishing Stamford Bridge Transformation
Mauricio Pochettino takes charge at Chelsea, ready to reshape the squad and unlock its potential; Lukaku's future uncertain, Caicedo pursuit continues, defense rebuilds, and a focus on restoring confidence and distancing from Spurs connection Exciting times ahead!
Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Cobham training ground on Monday morning, fully aware of the challenging task ahead of him. Chelsea wasted no time in implementing the first phase of their recovery from the previous season's turmoil.
Pochettino possesses the charm, ability, and personality required to find solutions amidst the current difficulties. With £212m worth of talent departing before the end of the previous financial year on June 30, the Argentinean manager must now start the next stage of rebuilding Stamford Bridge. We delve into Pochettino's pending tasks with News reporter Dharmesh Sheth and Ben Grounds.
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Continue to trim bloated squad
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Chelsea conducted a June clearance sale to unload players.
Pochettino took over a squad of 35 first-team players, excluding Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos. They will be joining the team for the first time this summer after being signed by Chelsea during the extravagant £600m spending spree in the past two transfer windows.
N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Kai Havertz's sales have contributed to reducing the squad's excess. While Mason Mount is currently undergoing his medical at Manchester United, there are still players considered unnecessary.
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Lyon have submitted a £21.5m offer for Christian Pulisic, with negotiations for the payment structure currently underway. AC Milan is also interested but has not yet made a formal bid.
Chelsea are nearing a deal to mutually terminate captain Cesar Azpilicueta's contract, paving the way for him to become a free agent. Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan are both reportedly interested. Similarly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella fall into this same category.
Does Lukaku still have a future?
As the playing staff is scheduled to enter through the training doors on Tuesday, it is worth noting that certain players, who had been representing their countries in the European Qualifiers, have been granted a prolongued period of rest.
This will provide Pochettino with some respite until Romelu Lukaku is set to come back.
Inter Milan is still in the process of negotiating a deal for the forward, but they have not made a satisfactory offer to Chelsea yet.
The future of the Belgian striker was uncertain when he joined Inter Milan on loan last summer due to problems with his relationship with Thomas Tuchel. Despite earning £350,000 per week, Lukaku may consider a permanent move away. He may argue that he still has unfinished business and with the change in manager, the negative experience of his return could have improved.
Chelsea have recruited Jackson and Nkunku. However, the team's lack of goals in the previous season highlights the importance of having alternative choices in case these Premier League newcomers encounter difficulties at the start. Pochettino must find a solution for Lukaku, considering that loan deals are not an option and only permanent transfers are being taken into account.
What is the latest on Caicedo pursuit?
Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is the club's next transfer priority following the arrivals of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson for a combined £84m.
Chelsea are set to initiate formal discussions with Brighton once several outgoing deals have been concluded. With the departures of Kovacic and Kante, and Mount soon to join them, Pochettino's main focus will be to pair Enzo Fernandez with Caicedo in the midfield.
The Ecuadorian played a crucial role in Brighton's sixth-place finish but has attracted significant attention from multiple clubs.
Arsenal made a £70m offer in January, which Brighton turned down, and now they are seeking £100m. Chelsea, on the other hand, aims to negotiate the player's value to around £80m.
Restore confidence and ooze entitlement
Chelsea's body language often revealed their lack of confidence and belief throughout the last season, as Frank Lampard struggled to secure a single home victory.Restore confidence and ooze entitlement
Upon his arrival at Tottenham in 2014, Pochettino diligently reminded his players of the club's illustrious history and the high expectations that came with it. Unfortunately, Graham Potter appeared to lack self-assurance and never truly appeared to be a natural fit.Both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte exuded an air of entitlement that bordered on arrogance, although they were both successful in winning titles. Despite not securing any silverware for Spurs, Pochettino confidently led them to a Champions League final.
The club's image holds just as much significance as their trophy collection from the past two decades, and Pochettino must demonstrate the right character to fulfill both those expectations.
The incoming manager's main responsibility will involve revitalizing a successful team environment, all the while making tough choices regarding the future of various experienced players.
It has been reported that Pochettino organizes his desk with a bowl of lemons nearby, believing that they have the ability to absorb any negative vibes. The notion is that the more negative energy there is, the faster the lemons will spoil.
The 51-year-old will hope that as he progresses through his first summer in charge, the citrus fruit will become even more succulent. At present, he can take solace in the fact that he has successfully accommodated his entire first-team squad in the same changing room.
Silence the Spurs connection
The expected outcome is a more polished version of the given fragment of content that includes the placeholder.Upon hearing Pochettino's name emerge as the front-runner for the club, Chelsea fan Paul Merson expressed his thoughts, stating that he likes Pochettino but emphasizes that being American, he should understand that it is unlikely and should not be happening, comparing it to a Yankee playing for the Mets.
The appointment has caused a rift among the fanbase, yet the outcomes and decisive action taken to eliminate those not included in his plans have likely begun to alter the overall atmosphere. A Tottenham supporter gained popularity for setting fire to Guillem Balague's Brave New World, a book that chronicles Pochettino's ascent. In his perspective, Pochettino has become the ultimate adversary after joining their rival team.
Pochettino must continue to silence the Spurs connection as he embarks on pre-season.
Unlock Mudryk
Ultimately, his reign will be defined by his players.Mykhailo Mudryk performed admirably for Ukraine, resulting in their victory over France and securing their position in the finals of the European U21 Championship on Sunday night. Chelsea had intentions to restore his confidence in Georgia and Romania, but unfortunately, a minor muscle injury prevented him from participating in the group stage.
Although displaying occasional moments of brilliance, the 22-year-old winger has encountered difficulties in justifying the £88.5m transfer fee to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Mudryk has made fifteen appearances but only managed to provide two assists. He has yet to score a goal and has only played the full 90 minutes in the Premier League once. With only seven starts and being substituted in eight times, Mudryk is now hoping for a continuous run of games under Pochettino.
Mudryk's debut at Anfield in January left a lasting impression, showcasing his talent in a brief but impactful performance. With the release of the new Premier League fixture list, he now has the ideal opportunity for a rejuvenated beginning, returning to where it all started.
Will Colwill form part of new defence?
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Levi Colwill wants clarity over his Chelsea future
Levi Colwill wants talks with Pochettino over his status in the team before he considers discussing a new contract.
Chelsea have stated that the player is not available for sale this summer, as he had a successful season on loan at Brighton. They intend to initiate a conversation with him regarding a potential new contract. Nevertheless, the English U21 international desires clarity on his role in Pochettino's plans for the upcoming season and the amount of regular playing time he can anticipate before engaging in negotiations for a new agreement.
Content: Colwill, contracted until 2025, aims to assess his importance to those plans upon his return to pre-season training after England U21 duty. Widely recognized as one of England's top center-back prospects, Colwill's left-footed ability adds value to his profile.
However, he faces tough competition from Benoit Badiashile, a £35m signing from Monaco in January, for the left centre-back position at Chelsea. Despite Brighton's desire to secure Colwill permanently this summer, their £30m offer was firmly rejected as Chelsea remains adamant that he is not available for sale and is a crucial part of Pochettino's plans.
As well as Brighton, Colwill has been on the target lists at a host of Premier League clubs.
