Todd Boehly will be watching with intent as Chelsea take on Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. As well as being a chance to pick up a first win under the interim gaze of Frank Lampard it is an opportunity to start plans for what is expected to shortly become the Mauricio Pochettino era.
The Argentine boss is closing in on becoming the new head coach at SW6 after continued positive talks have taken place with the ex-Tottenham, Southampton and Paris Saint-Germain boss. With the 51-year-old the firm favourite to be in the hot seat for next season this match provides a chance to look at what could be his new squad.
Although there are wide scale changes expected to extend into the summer, the foundations for his team is already there after an aggressive recruitment strategy from the new owners across the past 10 months. This includes eight players being purchased in the January window.
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The summer will need to bring more outgoings than incomings, though, with an already bloated senior squad of 33 players, Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto arriving too as well as returning loanees. It means that as many as 10 current players could be on their way out.
That doesn't mean that Pochettino won't have plans of his own in the market as Chelsea continue to farm for the best young talent on the planet. There are also key areas still needing improvement. None more so perhaps than in goal and up front, two positions that Pochettino and Boehly will take an ever closer look at on Wednesday.
Although football.london understands that the prospective new manager won't be in attendance at the ground it is likely that he will be tuning in to catch a glimpse of the game. This match in particular has added interest for the Blues too.
Lining up for Brentford will be two players who could depart the Bees this summer. Both David Raya and Ivan Toney have been linked with making the switch from Brentford to Chelsea and football.london understands that it is Raya that is a big name on the shortlist for replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy as the new number one.
Toney, on the other hand, was a player watched closely over the summer, especially towards the end of the window before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was signed.
It may not be down to Pochettino to get these deals done but with the speculation of the duo visiting the ground and Pochettino's seemingly imminent arrival, it is a story to watch out for.
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