Mauricio Pochettino makes £52m transfer clear Chelsea priority after bold Joao Felix decision

Mauricio Pochettino has already started making his feelings known on both incoming and outgoing transfers as his plans for Chelsea become clear. On Monday, it was confirmed by the club that the Argentine had signed a two-year deal to take charge of the Blues after an agreement had been in place between the two parties since early May.

With the 2022/23 season now over, focus at Stamford Bridge turns to the summer transfer window which will likely prove to be crucial in deciding the fortunes of the club in the next few campaigns. The first-team squad being heavily bloated could see as many as 15 players depart imminently with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy and Callum Hudson-Odoi five names expected to move on.

Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are two other players strongly linked with departures that could happen early into the summer window. Loftus-Cheek is in advanced talks to sign for AC Milan after the Italian giants first made contact over a move in April.

Meanwhile, Mount is wanted at Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal as contract extension talks with the Blues have hit a significant wall. Pochettino has already ensured his impact is felt by informing the club he does not want to see either Joao Felix or Denis Zakaria signed permanently by the club this summer.

The main positions Chelsea want to fill still remain as a striker, midfielder and goalkeeper. A list of potential targets for each role look to have been loosely discussed, but there is one position where the main target is clear and it is in Pochettino’s priority position to fill.

Acquiring a new central midfielder is more of a priority than signing a striker this summer Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte is undoubtedly the man Chelsea want as the club see him as the perfect partner to Enzo Fernandez.

Ugarte also has interest from Paris Saint-Germain but currently favours a move to west London. Pochettino is pushing hard to sign the 22-year-old with the Blues planning to pay his £52million release clause across instalments over the next four-five years, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Bringing a natural striker to the club this summer still remains a necessity, but Pochettino prioritising a midfield addition hints that he may use Kai Havertz or Christopher Nkunku at the tip of the attack on occasion. Of course, there is also the issue of Romelu Lukaku to sort out. And with N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek and Mount all facing the possibility of leaving this summer, it could mean that depth in midfield becomes scarce.