Incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to add a new central midfielder to the squad ahead of next season. Todd Boehly is hoping to raise a significant amount of funds through player sales that can be reinvested into key areas of the team.
Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante are facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge with Pochettino hoping to sign a perfect partner for Enzo Fernandez in midfield. Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also leave the club after AC Milan made contact with the Blues over a potential move for the 27-year-old, football.london understands.
One player that has been linked with a switch to Chelsea this summer is Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs thought to be monitoring the Uruguay international but reports have suggested the Blues are ready to seal a deal to sign him next month.
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has already admitted it is hard for the Portuguese club to keep hold of Ugarte this summer with clubs across Europe registering an interest in signing the midfielder. The 22-year-old has a £52million release clause in his contract which PSG and Chelsea are willing to match, according to the Express.
"I cannot comment on this issue, because it is beyond me. Now, we know that it is difficult to keep players like Ugarte," Amorim told Ojogo.
"Not just one club is interested, but several. Our objective is to sell, knowing that we missed the Champions League and it makes everything more difficult.
"I know what I want for the team and I have already conveyed that to the management.
Uruguayan transfer insider Franco Fernandez claims that Chelsea are the frontrunners to acquire Ugarte's services and that a deal could be thrashed out as early as next week. He tweeted: "Manuel Ugarte was on the bench [against Vizela], he did not see minutes waiting for his future for the transfer period. His arrival at Chelsea could be confirmed next week."
Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take over at the end of the season and he will likely have a key say on which players he would like to bring in, and more importantly which of their huge amount of players he would like to keep. Ugarte's agent has already admitted his client is expected to leave Sporting this summer and a move to Stamford Bridge could be on the cards.
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