Chelsea are acting quickly in the transfer market and aren't wasting much time in getting down to business. It is the start to the window that Mauricio Pochettino and the club's new recruitment directors were keen to get off to, especially after falling behind last year.
Whereas Todd Boehly and Co were held up 12 months ago having taken over, gotten their feet under the table and being clouded by the sanctions from the UK government, Chelsea were left to scramble throughout the summer. Before pre-season had started they had already lost Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.
This season there is no such excuse with plans in place for the new manager as far back as four weeks ago once Pochettino agreed to take over as the new head coach. His goal will be to have a settled side heading into the trip of America next month with ample time to intergrate any new signings, returning loanees and to establish fresh goals.
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Frank Lampard has reiterated messages of waining standards around the training ground since he took over as interim boss but no such worries will be allowed to fester under Pochettino. He has become known for demanding discipline around his clubs and has previous with exiling players when needed too.
The aim will be for things not to get to this stage this summer with a period of time to move on and sort deals away for at least 15 first-team stars that could be on their way out. With a soft deadline at the end of June for player sales due to accounting purposes, they are off to a fast start.
Pochettino has not yet started as manager, a role he officially takes up on July 1 but has been planning for and will be working in an effective position during the opening weeks of the window. The benefits of extensive talks with the Argentine throughout have already started to bear fruit.
Less than four days after being announced there are clear indications over six players and their futures at Stamford Bridge already. Joao Felix will not be remaining at the club after his six-month loan from Atletico Madrid. The 23-year-old scored four times since his arrival in January but is keen to play Champions League football, doesn't fit the bill for Pochettino's style and also has a massive financial price tag on his head as well.
This was confirmed by Atletico Madrid CEO Enrique Cerezo, who said: “We have been informed that Poch does not count with João Félix for Chelsea. He will return here, we’ll see, we’ve nothing planned." As a player that had been discussed as a potential addition, either permanently or on another loan for next year, it has been put to bed early.
Less surprisingly, Denis Zakaria will also not be staying. His loan was less successful and spent most of the time out of the squad and fighting to even make matchday squad's. The Blues have already chosen against meeting the £26m option to buy in his move. He only made 11 appearances for the club with seven in the league.
Two outgoings sorted, as Fabrizio Romano wrote on Twitter: "Mauricio Pochettino has decided also on Denis Zakaria: Swiss midfielder’s set to leave Chelsea in June, he’s not part of the plans.
"Chelsea will not trigger the buy option clause, Zakaria will return at Juventus and then will assess his options." In a more complex deal, but perhaps not much more shocking, Mason Mount is also edging closer to leaving. The 24-year-old has just over 12 months left to go on his deal and has long been expected to reach a final decision over his future.
With Chelsea willing to sell him should a new agreement not be reached, clubs have been snapping around for his signature for over one year. He now looks to have found that next destination with progress towards a move to Old Trafford and Manchester United being made quickly.
Mount is said to have agreed personal terms with Erik ten Hag's men with a price between the clubs left to be decided. Boehly is keen to recoup as much money as possible for the two-time player of the year. Although there is little bonus to selling a player like Mount, Chelsea are making decisive calls and aren't letting a potential transfer saga form.
The same can be said for Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian is another who's deal expires next year and isn't in the mix to extend. He has been attracting attention from across Europe after impressive performances heading into this season. The 2022/23 campaign was highlighted by the World Cup but he had an otherwise disappointing return at club level.
Manchester City have now raced into position to sign Kovacic after entering talks over personal terms with the player, someone Pep Guardiola has long admired. The 28-year-old is now expected to follow those before him in heading for the exit door.
Another player that is getting closer to a move away is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He gave the game away with a clear Stamford Bridge farewell against Newcastle on Sunday. AC Milan are his destination, football.london understands and now all that remains is for a price to be agreed. He is all but confirmed as departing from his boyhood club.
All of a sudden and the 32-man squad is soon to be five players lighter and a lot more manageable immediately, even with plenty of work still to be done. It means that there is set to be room for additions, something that is also being considered with key positions already highlighted for reinforcement.
A player that is being publicly trusted by the club to come in and make an impact is Levi Colwill. The 20-year-old impressed in his first season in the top flight on loan at Brighton after the Seagulls had made big efforts to sign him permanently for around £20m ($24.8m) last summer.
Colwill angered fans with a social media post appearing to mock the club after their defeat to Manchester United but is seen as an integral cog for Pochettino moving forward. Such is the desire to keep him, Chelsea have now reportedly turned down a £30m ($37.2m) offer for him.
Despite being yet to make his first team debut, football.london understands that the young defender is not seen as a player up for sale. Pochettino is keen to add him straight into the senior set-up as an important part of the squad for next year. The early test of their resolve, even with a small bid, is further proof of an early alignment of ideas and active effort to get business done early.
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