Chelsea are set to move on five midfielders this summer as Mauricio Pochettino rebuilds his squad at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are preparing for a summer of change after the club’s worst Premier League season since 1993/94, with the west Londoners ending the campaign in 12th place to miss out on European qualification.
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Pochettino is planning an overhaul of the squad after being appointed as head coach ahead of next season and the Daily Mail are reporting that midfield is a focus for the new manager.
Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all expected to leave this summer, with Manchester United leading the chase to sign the former. Mount is set to enter the final 12 months of his deal at Chelsea and looks set to move on after failing to agree terms on an extension.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are keen on a deal to sign Kovacic and Chelsea are understood to have given the Premier League champions permission to discuss terms with the Croatia international.
Loftus-Cheek – who appeared to wave goodbye to the Chelsea fans on the final weekend of the Premier League season – will also form part of the clear out and is close to agreeing a move to AC Milan.
Conor Gallagher and N’Golo Kante could also leave, with the latter out of contract this summer and subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Chelsea had hoped to add to their midfield with the signing of Manuel Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon, but have missed out to Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign the midfielder. The Blues retain interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
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