Gianfranco Zola highlights four huge Chelsea transfer mistakes from Mauricio Pochettino clearout
Gianfranco Zola has named four deals which Mauricio Pochettino should not have sanctioned in the summer transfer window. With the Chelsea boss eager to trim down his bloated squad, the Blues' co-sporting directors were tasked with managing the incoming and outgoings.
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart managed to offload 47 players from across the first-team and Development Squad, whether it be a permanent move, a loan or a free transfer. Several high-profile players were quickly culled, with Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount all finding new homes in the Premier League.
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 the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Abdul Rahman Baba all joined new clubs in Europe via free transfers.
Chelsea eventually managed to offload Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi late into the window too, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Romelu Lukaku joining Real Madrid and Roma on loans, respectively. Various other loan deals and free transfers were also wrapped up along the way.
While the Blues were long overdue a big clearout at Cobham, Zola was disappointed to see four players in particular leave – Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Havertz and Kovacic. In an interview with The Times, the Chelsea legend insisted that the quartet are players which the youngster would have looked up to and relied upon in 'difficult moments'.
«I am surprised so many experienced players left,» said Zola. «My understanding is they are planning to build a team within the next three or four years but players left that were there a long time and that won a lot –
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