Mauricio Pochettino gets huge £65m message affecting three Chelsea stars amid Rayan Cherki chase
Mauricio Pochettino has been told it is very important that someone steps up to fill the shoes vacated by Mason Mount following his £55million transfer to Manchester United. Chelsea have sold four first-team midfielders, including Mount, this summer and are yet to make a significant acquisition in that department amid their pursuit of Brighton star Moises Caicedo.
However, the Blues have a number of potential replacements already at the club with Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos all featuring in midfield against Wrexham. The trio impressed in the pre-season friendly and could be set for a marquee role in Pochettino's senior team plans.
Casadei could leave on loan again and is a target of Leicester, but Pochettino is leaning towards keeping Santos in west London for the 2023/24 season, according to the Evening Standard. Mount left his boyhood club in controversial circumstances with a contract dispute plaguing the last six months before it ultimately became clear there was no way back for him.
Man United entered the race for his signature and finally had their third offer of £55million accepted by Chelsea following face-to-face talks between both parties. Former Chelsea man Joe Cole has now delivered his verdict on Mount's exit and what Chelsea now need to do to ensure they replace him correctly.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Cole said: «I think Chelsea will miss Mason on the pitch because of his ability, but also off the pitch because of what he means to the club as a leader and a player that came through the ranks.
»I'm not sure we'll ever know the full story around the contract situation and the package that was offered to him, only Chelsea, Mason and his team know what it was but they couldn't get a deal done
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