Chelsea are set to continue another high-spending window on deadline day with boss Mauricio Pochettino targeting both last-gasp signings and a few outgoing transfers.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were the biggest spenders in the Premier League last summer as Todd Boehly’s tenure started. Chelsea fluttered £278.5m on signings and led the chart again in January with a further £323.5m spent. Yet they finished the campaign down in 12th place.
To address their dire campaign, Chelsea hired Pochettino as their new manager and secured several signings in the transfer window. Yet deadline day is now underway and the Argentine is still shopping. While a few could be heading out of Stamford Bridge before the sales shut.
Premier League teams have until 23:00 BST on September 1 to secure their final signings of deadline day. Pochettino is likely to use every second available to strengthen his squad after Chelsea started this term with one win from three. They beat Luton Town 3-0 last weekend.
A rejuvenated Raheem Sterling led the way for the Blues with two goals against the Hatters. Summer signings Nicolas Jackson and Axel Disasi have also hit the back of the net once. Yet Chelsea remain in the market come deadline day for late incoming and outgoing transfers…
Chelsea’s potential transfer deadline day signings
Chelsea are likely to be very active on transfer deadline day with Pochettino urging the west London side to secure some more signings. The Times even claims the Blues could raid their north London rivals, Arsenal, for Emile Smith Rowe. Early talks have also already taken place.
Stamford Bridge chiefs have approached their Emirates Stadium counterparts to sound out the 23-year-old’s situation. Smith Rowe is frustrated at Arsenal after failing to feature under Mikel Arteta in the top-flight this term. And the Gunners will listen to bids for the midfielder.
Pochettino also appreciates Lyon forward Rayan Cherki but Chelsea are not in active talks for the 20-year-old, per Fabrizio Romano. The Blues admire the France U21 talent having struck 14 and created 16 goals in 105 senior matches. He can also operate across the midfield line.
Sporting Lisbon star Marcus Edwards is another forward on Chelsea’s radar for a transfer on deadline day, per Simon Phillips. Pochettino is adamant that the Blues need another forward option. Edwards has 15 goals and 17 assists in 68 games with the Leoes since January 2022.
Also per Phillips, Chelsea are even doing the groundwork on a deal to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford. The Blues want to ‘jump the queue’ and agree terms for the forward before his FA-imposed ban for betting infringements ends. But they cannot sign Toney until January.
In the meantime, Pochettino is open to Chelsea targeting Barcelona forward Ferran Torres on deadline day. The Daily Mail reports that the Blues could play on the Spaniard serving as just a backup option at Camp Nou. He has only offered 16 goals in 73 games since joining Barca.
Chelsea also have eyes on the future on deadline day with club chiefs considering a transfer for Middlesbrough’s Finn Cartwright. According to TEAMtalk, the Blues believe the 16-year-old has huge potential after becoming Boro’s second-youngest first-team player this month.
Talks are even also underway with Portimonense to discuss a deadline day transfer for Filipe Relvas, per Foot Mercato. The Blues have spoken with the Primeira Liga outfit about the 23-year-old centre-half. He would cost less than €10m (£8.5m) but has interest from Monaco.
On top of all of that, Ben Jacobs reports that Joao Felix is ‘very interested’ in a deadline day deal to re-join Chelsea. The Atletico Madrid forward would like to return to the Bridge after his loan spell last term. But Pochettino is not pushing Chelsea to sign Felix over his targets.
Three players who could still leave Stamford Bridge
The entrance to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground is likely to be far busier than the exit on deadline day. While Pochettino is pushing the Blues to seal some last-ditch deals to improve his side, only a few are likely to agree to last-gasp moves to leave the west London natives.
One who could leave is Trevoh Chalobah, who the Evening Standard reports is of interest to Bayern Munich. Ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is driving the Bavarian’s pursuit after failing with a loan bid. The Blues want £50m for Chalobah, who is keen to move to Bayern Munich.
Just one year after moving to west London, Marc Cucurella could also be on his way out. The left-back is a deadline day target of Manchester United, per Marca. Erik ten Hag targeted the Spaniard after losing Luke Shaw to an injury. While Cucurella will also welcome the transfer.
Academy graduate Conor Gallagher also remains on the market come deadline day. But the Daily Mail claims that some of Chelsea’s academy staff are urging the club against offloading the 23-year-old. They consider the England star as a real sign of their path to the first-team.
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