Chelsea have new summer transfer plan as Pochettino’s Ugarte reaction shows

Chelsea’s disastrous start to life under Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghabli-led ownership has partly been down to messy recruitment. But early indications suggest Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival as head coach will spark a positive change this summer after missing out on Manuel Ugarte.

Chelsea were heavily linked with Ugarte, and many expected them to make him Pochettino’s first addition after indicating they would trigger his £52million release clause.

However, PSG gazumped the Blues in the 11th hour, offering the 22-year-old Sporting midfielder financial terms that couldn’t be matched.

It caused a surprise, given the deep pockets Boehly and co. have flaunted since buying Chelsea from Roman Abramovich last year.

But reports suggest that Pochettino has inspired a change of strategy to veer away from the club’s unsuccessful recent business.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea made an early decision that they wouldn’t be dragged into a bidding war for Ugarte, determined not to overpay.

It’s a wild contrast to the club’s activity since Abramovich’s exit, which included a fierce bidding war with Arsenal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

Chelsea completed a staggering £88.5m deal for the 22-year-old, and the decision to hand him an eight-and-a-half-year contract was even more eyebrow-raising.

Reservations about the Blues’ direction under Boehly intensified after Mudryk failed to score once in his first 17 appearances.

Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling’s uninspiring starts to life in West London raised further concerns.

But Chelsea’s sensible stance over Ugarte indicates that a change of the tides is on the horizon under Pochettino’s leadership.