Mauricio Pochettino's task to fix several Chelsea problems this summer will not be an easy one. The Blues' on-pitch performances have been disappointing to say the least and the decisions made in the last 12 months at board room level are being significantly questioned.
The first job Pochettino must handle is the summer transfer window. While three key positions need first-team additions, sanctioning as many exits as possible may be considered the priority ahead of the 2023/24 season. According to Chelsea's official website, there were 27 first-team players at the club, including loans in but not out, showcasing that departures should stretch into double figures if additions also want to be made.
Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria will both return to Atletico Madrid and Juventus, respectively, following Pochettino's decision they will not be bought permanently at the end of their loan spells in west London. His next key summer choice will likely come in the form of an arrival as signing a new midfielder is his transfer priority and the player he wants in that position is already known.
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Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte looks set for a move this summer and Pochettino is pushing hard to ensure that he is his first official signing at the club. A striker and goalkeeper have also been identified as positions where the Blues are hoping to add a first-choice option with no natural senior forward, minus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, at the club and difficulty in either Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy nailing down the No.1 spot in goal.
The latter looks set to be one of the many to depart the club with contract talks taking place this season with no progress whatsoever. Kepa's future remains unclear, and while he has impressed at points in the season, a new goalkeeper being signed looks likely.
Inter's Andre Onana is the main name linked, with Chelsea even trying to offer a swap deal involving Kepa to bring the former Ajax man to Stamford Bridge. That proposal was quickly rebuffed but the Blues' interest remains, however a £12million transfer already completed could give Pochettino the perfect answer to his shot stopper problem.
Gabriel Slonina is yet to make a senior appearance since signing for the club last summer from Chicago Fire, yet he continues to impress. Ludicrous first-team training saves, strong performances in Premier League 2 and unbelievable saves and displays on the international level has already given supporters a glimpse of his qualities.
The latter is currently being applied at the time of writing with Slonina at the U20 World Cup with the USMNT where he is yet to concede a single goal. In the group stages USA beat Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia before riding out 4-0 winners against New Zealand in the last-16, and those four victories have all come with four clean sheets for Slonina.
Pochettino is well-known for taking a chance on younger players and may choose to give the 19-year-old an opportunity to impress during pre-season before ultimately making a loan decision. Frank Lampard's decision to offer Mendy one last chance to save his Chelsea career against Nottingham Forest further proved the need for a goalkeeper addition, but the Argentine may feel he already has the perfect solution at the club.
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