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Lavia signs, Fernandez shines, £80m transfer win – Mauricio Pochettino’s dream Chelsea midfield
Mauricio Pochettino will soon start work officially as the new Chelsea head coach. Although he has been doing plenty of work behind the scenes before starting his new job on July 1.
Pochettino will be keen to make moves in the transfer window, with discussions over targets had with owner Todd Boehly and the recruitment team in place at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino is thought to want to bring two new midfielders into the club this summer and those two new signings would make up the new boss’ dream midfield combination.
The likes of Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount have all been linked with departures from Stamford Bridge, while N’Golo Kante has already gone and Mateo Kovacic looks set to join Manchester City, leaving the path clear for new signings to be made. Pochettino could go for a three in midfield, or could revert to a previously favourted 4-2-3-1 formation that would require two holding midfielders.
Here, football.london experiments with just how it could look come the opening day of the season and who those two or three could be.
Romeo Lavia
The first midfielder through the Stamford Bridge entrance door could well be Romeo Lavia. The Southampton midfielder is one of the Blues’ top targets and Chelsea have opened talks with Southampton to sign Lavia this summer, football.london understands.
However, the Blues face stiff competition in the form of London rivals Arsenal, who are also keen on signing the Saints teenager who was one of few to impress in their relegation campaign last season.
Southampton are understood to want somewhere betwen £40million and £50million for the talented youngster and Chelsea could steal a march on the Gunners by tying up a deal while they are focused on getting Declan Rice over the line. The same can be said for Chelsea’s next midfield target…
Moises Caicedo
It is said that should Lavia join, that the club’s interest in Caicedo won’t be ending. He is one of the top names on their minds for the position and should the midfield exodus go beyond three names, seeing both players end up in blue might not be too unrealistic either.
Ecuadorian media report that he would prefer a move to Arsenal – where have we heard that one before? Chelsea remain in the mix, though, and could have a newly revamped midfield with him a part of it. As an energetic, dynamic and technically skilled in multiple areas player, Caicedo is gold dust on the transfer market.
His performances under Roberto De Zerbi have helped to establish him as one of the best young midfielders in the world and Chelsea would love to see his speed, ball-carrying and excellence between the boxes alongside Lavia next season.
Enzo Fernandez
The final piece of the puzzle is Chelsea’s metronomic new version of Cesc Fabregas. Even in a poor team he has stood out and was even in with a shout of winning the club’s player of the season award despite not joining until January 31. Since then he has started every game, such has been his short adaptation and importance.
Fernandez offers control and creativity from deep as well as good old fashioned Argentine aggression which is sure to be admired and demanded by his fellow countryman, Pochettino. In a trio of South American midfield zest, Fernandez is the classy finishing touch.
The issue with this trio is goals, but the base provided by the two new signings in this hypothetical side allow him the chance to venture forward and into attacking areas in ways he hasn’t been able to yet.
Who should Chelsea keep or sell this summer? Have your say below.
