With Chelsea closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine is already plotting a busy transfer window at Stamford Bridge. The ex-Southampton boss is reportedly hoping to make use of his ties with Paris Saint-Germain to secure the signature of Achraf Hakimi.
The Blues are in desperate need of a rebuild despite splashing the cash since the arrival of Todd Boehly at the club. Money has been heavily invested in new signings but the acquisitions have struggled to make any true impact under both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
Chelsea are keen to ensure that their next managerial appointment will spearhead their revival and have interviewed numerous candidates as a result. Though with Julian Nagelsmann dropping out of the running and Luis Enrique intimidating the club with his desire for control, the decision has been a simple one due to the positive feeling around Pochettino.
The former Tottenham boss is hoping to make use of the plethora of young players already at Chelsea, though is keen to dip into the transfer market for reinforcements. According to TEAMtalk, the Blues have been alerted to the news of PSG’s willingness to entertain offers for their more important stars, including Hakimi.
The right-back has been made available by the Ligue 1 club, with Chelsea and Manchester United both keen to acquire his services. The defender has impressed over the past few years with his defensive know-how as well as a willingness to bomb on and be a presence in the final third – with his best campaign coming as a right wing-back under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan.
Hakimi has scored four and assisted three in 25 league appearances for PSG this season and is continuing to impress those at Chelsea.
With Reece James struggling with recurring injury problems, with a hamstring issue ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign, an alternative option in right-back has been deemed necessary by the Blues. Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah have both provided cover in that department previously, though they both could be included in the club’s firesale.
James has also played as a right-sided central defender previously too as part of a back-three, which Pochettino often deploys, and that could be considered when weighing up if a big-money move for Hakimi is pursued when the campaign concludes – with Transfermarkt valuing the 24-year-old at approximately £62million, a fee that is certainly within the reach of Chelsea nowadays.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
