Mauricio Pochettino looks set to miss out on Chelsea transfer target Gavi, as the Spain international has no plans to leave Barcelona this summer.
The midfielder is strongly linked with a switch to West London as part of a three-name shortlist understood to have been drawn up by Pochettino as the Argentine looks to be the most likely appointment at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have yet to confirm the permanent successor to Graham Potter, with interim manager Frank Lampard set to remain at the helm for the rest of the season.
Pochettino is believed to also want a new striker and goalkeeper. Neither Edouard Mendy nor Kepa Arrizabalaga has consistently excelled between the sticks, while interest in a new number nine suggests a return for out-on-loan frontman Romelu Lukaku is unlikely.
According to Sport (via Sport Witness ), Pochettino is a big admirer of Gavi, who made his Barca debut at 17 and played and scored for his country at the World Cup. The youngster's future has been the subject of plenty of debate, with LaLiga refusing to ratify his new contract amid the Catalan club's financial issues.
The situation put Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, on high alert. However, it now appears the player is keen to stay at Camp Nou and will resolve his situation once Barca are able to balance the books.
Pochettino's hopes for midfield reinforcements come at a time of uncertainty around two of the Blues' current senior squad members. N'Golo Kante is still yet to extend a contract which expires at the end of the current campaign, while Mason Mount - whose deal runs until 2024 - has also been linked with a summer departure.
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One man who Chelsea did manage to sign from Barcelona last summer is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, the striker - who has struggled for minutes this term - is keen to return to his former club.
"I would like to return to Barca, but we will see what happens," Aubameyang told a fan when asked about his future. The former Arsenal star scored 11 times in 17 league outings for Xavi's side last season, adding two further goals in the Europa League, but has played less than 1,000 minutes all season for Chelsea and was dropped from their squad for the Champions League knockout rounds.
As well as the out-of-contract Kante, Chelsea could end up sending on-loan duo Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria back to their parent clubs in the summer. Joao Felix scored his third Blues goal in the weekend victory at Bournemouth, but Lampard has not started the Portugal international since April 12.
"As managers you rely on things you’re gonna get from players, that huge talent is something maybe we did have or didn’t have in different degrees, but he also has to have the work ethic, the team nature about him," Lampard said of the man on loan from Atletico Madrid. "I’m not saying he doesn’t have that because he’s played with [Diego] Simeone - a coach that demands collectiveness - but at the same time finding his way here he has to understand in the short-term what I want, then he can show his talent once he does the other stuff."
