POCH STARTS HIS CHELSEA REVOLUTION
NEW BOSS IN LONDON TOMORROW
MAURICIO POCHETTINO will immediately begin planning for next season after finally being confirmed as the new Chelsea head coach yesterday.
Under the terms of his exit from Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, Pochettino (right) cannot officially begin his new role until July 1 but he has already started the groundwork for a crucial summer.
Pochettino will hold talks with players over the next month and among his top priorities will be determining the futures of out-of-contract N’Golo Kante, and Mason Mount — who has a year remaining on his deal and is wanted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal after talks with Chelsea stalled.
Pochettino is also expected to hold talks with outgoing interim boss Frank Lampard and begin discussions with sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley on summer plans.
The 51-year-old prefers working with a compact group and another priority will be trimming a bloated squad, particularly as the Blues have no European football next season. Pochettino wants a new goalkeeper, midfielder and striker, although is understood to believe incoming forward Christopher Nkunku, who is due to join from RB Leipzig, can immediately add goals to a squad which struggled for firepower.
Pochettino is due in London tomorrow for a series of meetings and is expected to largely split his time between the capital and Barcelona over the next month, while he is also due in Manchester on June 11 for SoccerAid.
There are 19 players in the Chelsea squad with longer contracts than Pochettino, but he is said to be relaxed about signing a two-year deal, with the option of a one-year extension.
His predecessor, Graham Potter, was given a five-year contract with a mandate to build a long-term project but was sacked after just six months.
Chelsea today appointed Chris Jurasek as their chief executive. The club said Jurasek “will take responsibility for all the business areas of the club”, with president of business Tom Glick stepping down after only 10 months.