Mauricio Pochettino has already identified two positions Chelsea must strengthen

Mauricio Pochettino has already identified two areas of the Chelsea squad he would like to strengthen ahead of his looming appointment, according to reports.

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The Argentine is now the standout candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge after a series of talks with the club’s hierarchy, beating off competition from the likes of Luis Enrique and Ruben Amorim.

Barring a dramatic, last-minute breakdown in negotiations, Pochettino’s appointment is expected to be officially announced imminently.

As part of his discussions with the club, the former Tottenham manager is believed to have asked for a greater say in Chelsea’s transfer strategy – even though the new ownership have spent a lot of money to improve and expand their recruitment team.

Chelsea have forked out around £600million on transfers in the past year, but, according to Fabrizio Romano, Pochettino feels more investment is required this summer.

The 51-year-old coach, who impressed Chelsea’s owners with his vision and plans for the squad, feels a new striker must be brought in.

Kai Havertz currently leads the west London club’s scoring charts with a rather modest nine goals in all competitions, while the team as a whole have only managed to net 30 goals in 31 Premier League games – only four sides have been less prolific.

Although Chelsea have agreed a deal for RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku, a more orthodox striker will be sought.

Romelu Lukaku’s future remains uncertain and he will likely hold talks with both Pochettino and the club in the summer to discuss a potential role in the team; he could be presented with a lifeline back at Stamford Bridge, though his preference is thought to be a return to Inter Milan.

The other position Pochettino and Chelsea will look to strengthen in is the number six role.

N’Golo Kante, a free agent in the summer, has yet to sign a new contract while Mateo Kovacic – whose own deal expires in 2024 – has been used sporadically due to injury.

With Jorginho having left and Mason Mount also running down his deal, central midfield is an area that is starting to look a little light and Chelsea may revisit moves for the likes of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister – both of whom they were interested in during the January window.

There could be even more signings beyond those two positions, but Pochettino will assess his squad in pre-season before deciding what else is required.

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