The midfielders Mauricio Pochettino should sign for Chelsea
By Tom Gott
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he would love a new midfielder this summer.
The Blues brought in Enzo Fernandez in January and are working to tie N'Golo Kante down to a new contract, but there is real uncertainty over the futures of Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Mateo Kovacic and so plans are being made to bolster in the heart of the pitch.
Here are some options for the position.
1. Declan Rice
90min understands Pochettino has already been asked about Chelsea's long-standing interest in West Ham United's Declan Rice, and the Argentine is keen to get a deal done.
Unfortunately, life isn't so simple. Rice is likely to cost upwards of £100m, which is a problem in itself, while the significant competition from all across the Premier League won't work in Chelsea's favour either.
That being said, Chelsea would be foolish not to pursue this deal. Rice is an elite midfielder whose Premier League quality has already been proven. There must be somebody in the Chelsea squad who West Ham would take in exchange, right?
2. Manu Kone
An emerging star in the Bundesliga, Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone continues to grow his stock.
Still just 22 years old, Kone has excelled as both a lone defensive midfielder and further forward, showcasing his tenacious defending and composed passing to earn a reputation as one of the game's top young midfielders.
Kone is going to land himself a big move very soon. Clubs across Europe are following him closely, and having already moved too slowly to land Aurelien Tchouameni, Chelsea would be wise to get this one right.
3. Romeo Lavia
To any followers of youth football, Romeo Lavia's emergence as a Premier League-level player this season will have come as no surprise. The 19-year-old was clearly ready for the step up to senior football and did not disappoint following his move to Southampton.
With the Saints now set for Championship football next season, they will have given up hope of retaining Lavia, and Chelsea have been lurking for nearly an entire year now.
Lavia's price tag has just dropped following Southampton's relegation, so the stars could be aligning here.
4. Manuel Ugarte
Fresh off a big splash in Portugal for Fernandez, Chelsea could repeat that feat with a big move fot Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte.
Another youngster, having just turned 22, Ugarte has enjoyed an excellent season as the destructive force at the base of Sporting's midfield and has even been compared to Kante for his tenacity and success when it comes to recovering possession.
Such an anchor would be enormous for Chelsea, who have lacked that sort of control since Nemanja Matic's departure in 2017.
5. Florentino Luis
If you want somebody to bring the most out of Fernandez, why not turn to the player who helped the Argentine blossom into a £106.8m player?
23-year-old Florentino Luis has had a tricky few years out on loan with Monaco and Getafe but has finally found his place at Benfica, spending most of the season flying under the radar alongside Chelsea's record signing.
Florentino knows how to play alongside Fernandez and clearly boasts a skill set which compliments him perfectly, so this would be a smart move for Chelsea.