Chelsea double deal 'close' as Mauricio Pochettino completes first step of transfer masterplan
Mauricio Pochettino's project at Stamford Bridge is finally beginning to take shape, but Chelsea still have plenty of business to conduct before the end of August
Mauricio Pochettino has reached the next stage of his rebuild project, with Chelsea set to complete two more deals before the transfer windows slams shut. Ahead of the summer, co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley were tasked with the difficult mission of conducting a clear-out at Stamford Bridge.
Numerous high-profile players have already been culled from the first-team, with Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount all finding new homes. N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy jetted off to Saudi Arabia, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic both joined AC Milan.
Ethan Ampadu penned a deal at Leeds United, while Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Abdul Rahman Baba all joined new clubs in Europe via free transfers. While Chelsea are yet to sell Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech, the duo have been shunned from first-team preparations in pre-season.
After offloading twelve players from the books, Pochettino launched the next stage of his meticulous rebuild – possibly one which the Blues know all too well – reinvigorating the infamous loan system. David Datro Fofana got the ball rolling by joining Union Berlin before Angelo Gabriel followed by signing for sister-club Strabourg.
Charlie Webster and Teddy Sharman-Lowe have also joined Heerenveen and Bromley, respectively, before they return to Cobham next year to force themselves into the Chelsea boss' plans. With the loan system well underway again at Stamford Bridge, there are two more deals in the pipeline.
According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are closing
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