If everything goes to plan for Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino could be handed a healthy transfer budget to sign his priority targets this summer. The appointment of the former Tottenham boss as the Blues new head coach was confirmed earlier this week, however, football.london understands an agreement had been in place since early May which has allowed some work to already be completed by Pochettino behind the scenes.
Early decisions made appear to include the futures of Joao Felix, Denis Zakaria, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount. Both Felix and Zakaria will return to Atletico Madrid and Juventus, respectively, after Pochettino chose to not sign either permanently upon the expiry of their loan spells, while Loftus-Cheek and Mount are a duo who could be set for exits this summer.
AC Milan are in talks to sign Loftus-Cheek, while a lack of progress this year on contract negotiations for Mount likely means he will leave his boyhood club. Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are all seriously interested in Mount, football.london understands. Jurgen Klopp's side emerged as early front-runners having done more ground work than any other club, but United are now leading the race for his signature.
