Mauricio Pochettino is preparing for a potential £115 million clearout at Chelsea, with five players possibly departing during the January transfer window, as reported by walexsports.com.
The beginning of Pochettino’s tenure at Chelsea has shown a mix of outcomes. The team displayed promising performances like the 4-1 victory against Tottenham and the 4-4 draw with Manchester City, but also faced lows, notably in the recent fixture versus Newcastle United.
Despite reaching the halfway mark, this project led by the Argentine was not expected to undergo an instant transformation. Criticism unfairly directed towards the players and staff after a single poor performance contrasts with the club’s impressive 12th-place finish last season.
Some advocate for additional funding, despite the significant £1 billion investment already made in January. It remains unclear if Pochettino requires further financial support, but if he aims to bring in new players, it necessitates creating space and budget. As a result, the following five players might depart from Stamford Bridge in the upcoming transfer window:
– Trevoh Chalobah, who hasn’t played this season due to an injury, might struggle to secure a place in the starting lineup due to the team’s defensive issues. Rumors linking him to clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have subsided, but his situation could change in January, with a speculated price tag of £25 million.
– Malang Sarr, who’s seen limited playtime in four years at Chelsea, hasn’t been a successful signing and has not made a significant impact. Pochettino seemingly overlooked him in the squad.
– Ian Maatsen, who considered a move to Burnley in the summer, has not secured a substantial role under Pochettino. Despite displaying promise during preseason, he has had minimal Premier League minutes. He expressed his wish to play more but hasn’t ruled out a potential loan move in January.
– Armando Broja, despite admiration from Pochettino, may leave due to interests from West Ham and Fulham. With limited playtime, a transfer worth £30 million is being speculated.
– Noni Madueke, despite joining for £30 million in January, might go on loan after a year due to limited game time and recent interest from Cole Palmer, sidelining him.
The departure of these players could pave the way for potential incoming transfers, providing an opportunity for Pochettino to reshape the squad.