Chelsea boss Pochettino left with big ‘worry’ just two weeks before new season

Football Digest: Pochettino ruthlessly exiles three players from Chelsea HQ

Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly concerned by the lack of experience and depth in midfield at Chelsea heading into the upcoming campaign. The Blues have completed a mass clearout in the department already this summer but are yet to welcome replacements.

Pochettino made it clear upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge that he wanted Chelsea to prioritise selling players before splashing the cash, keen not to fall victim to the mistakes made by Graham Potter by having an oversized squad.

Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are among those to have been sold as a result, but Pochettino has not been rewarded for facilitating so many exits with new signings.

According to The Times, the former Tottenham manager is growing ‘increasingly concerned’ by the lack of experience he has in midfield and the slow progress in acquiring reinforcements. In Chelsea’s pre-season squad, four of the six midfielders listed were teenagers, highlighting the size of the issue.

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The Blues have been locked in negotiations with Brighton for the majority of the summer as they desperately attempt to persuade their Premier League rivals to part ways with Moises Caicedo. Chelsea have already seen two bids rejected for the Ecuador international but they are reluctant to increase their offers to £100million, despite the Seagulls’ valuation.

Caicedo is seen as the ideal acquisition due to his experience in the Premier League and quality, but Pochettino’s side will need to pay a premium for his services. Brighton are willing to negotiate for their No 25, but only if defender Levi Colwill is offered as part of a player-plus-cash package.

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With Conor Gallagher attracting interest from West Ham and Tottenham, Pochettino will be aware that he is two weeks away from heading into the 2023/24 campaign with Enzo Fernandez as his only experienced midfield option. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are forced to bite the bullet and compromise on their position of not bidding more than £80m, or if they turn their attention to alternative targets.

The Blues have sounded out their interest in Romeo Lavia for almost 12 months via Joe Shields and the Belgium international is likely to be an alternative if the pursuit of Caicedo is concluded. However, Chelsea don’t have time to waste in weighing up between the two as Liverpool are advancing in negotiations with Southampton for Lavia, with a second bid expected to be tabled imminently.

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