Mauricio Pochettino gets striker transfer hope as Chelsea sent 'premium' incentive for £50m star
Mauricio Pochettino has been sent a clear Chelsea message about Ollie Watkins after it was revealed the Aston Villa star had emerged as a Blues summer target. Following the November appointment of Unai Emery, Watkins' 13 goals significantly helped Villa qualify for the Europa Conference League which included a goal on the final day against Brighton.
Signing a striker was seen as a must for Chelsea ahead of the summer window, despite the pre-contract agreement struck with RB Leipzig for the transfer of attacker Christopher Nkunku. Nicolas Jackson was also subsequently signed from Villareal and the duo have greatly impressed in pre-season despite not featuring on the pitch at the same time.
However, when presented with that idea, which would see Nkunku play behind Jackson, Pochettino gave an interesting response. «For sure we will arrive in the next few games at the possibility to play them together. It is that the circumstance of the physical condition mean we need to use both to share the minutes.»
Despite making those two signings, Chelsea are still being linked to strikers with Watkins as the latest target coming to light, courtesy of Journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack. Like Chelsea, Villa were also in Philadelphia over the weekend for their Premier League Summer Series opener against Newcastle.
Emery's side went in front twice, with Watkins scoring the opener, but ended up drawing the fixture 3-3. Following the stalemate, former Premier League footballer Tim Howard delivered his verdict on Watkins and his future amid links to Chelsea, which could have potentially given Pochettino the incentive to sign the 27-year-old.
“Strikers are always at such a premium,” Howard told Sky Sports. “Aston Villa will do really
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