Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Holland

Newcastle eye stunning £50m transfer after Chelsea comments in Mauricio Pochettino blow

Chelsea's summer transfer plans face being squandered as a consequence of their poor 2022/23 season. The Blues face another crucial window this year ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's first season at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, the Blues finished 12th - their worst finish in Premier League history - meaning they will not play in any of UEFA’s European competitions next campaign.

Any business in the transfer market promises to be possibly some of the most important in the club's recent history. Alongside the tough task of trimming the 32-man squad, the Blues face competing with some of Europe's elite for their preferred targets.

Todd Boehly faces stiff competition from Arsenal for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, with the Gunners able to offer Champions League football for the first time since 2017. The Blues have also missed out on Manuel Ugarte after being unable to match Paris Saint-Germain's multi-million wage offer.

And a similar story is set to unfold with another midfield target. Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League after impressing in Italy.

Chelsea had been joined by Liverpool in the race for the 26-year-old, but it has now emerged that he is close to joining Newcastle United.

READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: £50m Barella deal, Mbappe contact, Arsenal's Havertz proposal

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are pushing hard to bring the Italy international to St James' Park in a deal worth around £50million. The report claims that the Magpies have designated the majority of their transfer budget on improving Eddie Howe's midfield this summer.

Barella and Leicester City's James Maddison are said to be their top two targets. Upon their return to the Champions League, a new number six is at the top of their list to allow Bruno Guimaraes to push further forward.

Chelsea look set to miss out on Barella, with intense talks between Newcastle and Inter set to take place over the last few days. Therefore, co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart must identify other alternatives for Pochettino's midfield.

Elsewhere, the Blues continue to be linked with Barella's Inter team-mates Lauturo Martinez and Andre Onana.

READ NEXT:

Four things Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea must do now the transfer window is open

Mauricio Pochettino has already revealed Kai Havertz transfer answer amid Chelsea mission

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.