Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that his squad needs one more midfielder before the start of the season. The Blues have seen a summer bid rejected for Moises Caicedo, with co-owner Todd Boehly given another nudge to cough up for the Brighton star.
Pochettino will get a fresh opportunity to survey his Chelsea squad during a pre-season clash with Newcastle in the early hours of Thursday morning. The Argentine is gearing up for his first campaign as manager at Stamford Bridge.
One particular area of concern is in the middle of the park. Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos are all exciting young options, but Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher are the side’s only established midfielders.
Pochettino therefore made it clear to Boehly, who has not been shy in splashing the cash during previous transfer windows, that he needs another body in before the competitive season gets underway.
“We need at least one more [midfielder] and we are working on that,” stated the former Tottenham boss. “It depends on what happens in the next few weeks. We will decide and take our decision.”
“At the moment, we are working to reinforce that area, and other areas also. I think the players that are here on the tour are in our plans, Chelsea’s plans. We are working very hard to try to add more players in different areas and hope that is possible soon.”
Caicedo was the subject of serious interest from Chelsea back in January, when Brighton blocked his exit. And the Blues have come back with a fresh offer this summer, although the Seagulls flatly rejected their recent £70million bid.
Boehly and co splashed out more than £100m on Fernandez over the winter, and they may have to match that fee to snap up Caicedo, who Brighton reportedly value in the same bracket as Declan Rice.
The 21-year-old appeared in all bar one of the Seagulls’ Premier League matches last season, making a serious impression in the process.
Chelsea’s midfielder shortage could get even worse if Gallagher joins West Ham or Tottenham. The Blues reportedly want £50m to let go of the 23-year-old, but Pochettino is seemingly opposed to his departure.
“Conor is in our plans, I was talking with him the first day I arrived,” he added. “In football, things can happen that we cannot manage. At the moment, I am happy with him and his performance, he has two years on his contract. Nothing to say.”
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