Chelsea are expected to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as the club's next manager with the Argentine demanding a new central midfield signing if he takes the job at Stamford Bridge
Mauricio Pochettino remains the favourite to become Chelsea's next manager after positive talks with the club in recent weeks. The former Tottenham and Paris-Saint Germain boss has been without a job since he left the French outfit following their Ligue 1 title success at the end of the 2021/22 season.
Dream options
Chelsea had a verbal offer of £55million for Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton in the January transfer window, but the club remain interested in signing the Ecuadorian midfielder. Caicedo signed a new contract with the Seagulls days after the January transfer window closed but Brighton are bracing for bids for the 21-year-old - despite the player committing his future to Roberto De Zerbi's side until 2027.
The Argentina World Cup winner was signed in January and will look to kick on next season and show why Chelsea forked out £106million for his signature. Enzo has been a bright spark in a dreadful campaign for the Blues and needs support to truly thrive at Stamford Bridge.
Dream midfield lineup: Enzo, Kante, Caicedo
Realistic options
Signing Caicedo will prove difficult for Chelsea unless they meet Brighton's huge valuation of the Ecuador international this summer - especially after the player signed a new long-term deal at the Amex Stadium. A cheaper alternative to Caicedo could be Southampton's Romeo Lavia.
Lavia could be available for cheap this summer with the Saints set to be relegated to the Championship this season. The 19-year-old joined Southampton from Man City last summer and put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the club.
Chelsea are among the clubs interested in signing Lavia and failed in a move to sign him last summer just weeks after he joined the Saints. The Blues could reignite their interest in the young midfielder this summer and bring him to the club for a cheaper price than it would cost to sign Caicedo.
City have a chance to buy him back for £40million, although this clause doesn't become active until 2024. This hands Chelsea the perfect chance to poach him from Southampton a year before he could return to the Etihad Stadium.
Realistic midfield lineup: Enzo, Kante, Lavia