Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea agree transfer plan amid Mason Mount contract demand
auricio Pochettino is expected to return to London this week to sign his three-year contract to become Chelsea’s new manager.
The 51-year-old will fly from his current location in Spain back to the United Kingdom when finally given the green light by his lawyer to sign the documents.
Chelsea will then present their new coach, who they expect will take over from Frank Lampard next season with the final steps now appearing a formality.
Pochettino, who didn’t use an agent to negotiate terms, will discuss the state of the squad with the current caretaker manager.
Lampard already has a positive relationship with the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss, who has begun discussing his vision for next season with Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
Winstanley and Stewart led the “extensive process” to hire Pochettino while keeping owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali informed. Pochettino’s idea to sign a new striker and goalkeeper already aligns with Chelsea’s long-held transfer plans.
London return: Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will officially take over at Chelsea
/ REUTERSPochettino will ask the Blues to restart talks with Mason Mount, who looks set to leave Stamford Bridge if he doesn’t agree on a new contract soon.
Liverpool are front runners to poach the midfielder that Chelsea have sensationally valued at £70million despite having just a year left on his contract.
The Blues also need to close a deal to keep N’Golo Kante with just six months left on his contract, while Mateo Kovacic could leave due to interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Both players recently picked up injuries.
Chelsea could also look at signing an additional midfielder but that will depend on player sales with the possibility of a host of loanees, including Romelu Lukaku, Malo Gusto, Andrey Santos and Levi Colwill, all returning to the squad over the summer.
With 32 players already on the books, Chelsea need to drastically trim their first-team squad through sales so it becomes more manageable, especially in a season without European football.
There are also concerns about remaining compliant with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules after being put on UEFA’s watchlist before spending a record £600million this season.
Pochettino is ready to work with the club’s current recruitment staff. Winstanley and Stewart completed the extensive process to appoint the manager while Joe Shields, Chelsea’s director of recruitment and talent, has continued to look at player signings.
