MAURICIO POCHETTINO is concerned about his lack of midfield – but believes Moises Caicedo can fix the issue.
Chelsea have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer market this season, with outgoings dominating their business.
The Blues have let 13 senior stars leave the club this summer, including midfielders Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic.
As a result, Pochettino currently has just two experienced players at his disposal in that position – Enzo Fernandez, 22, and Conor Gallagher, 23.
West Ham have had a £40m bid for Gallagher rejected with the Stamford Bridge academy graduate desperate for more Premier League starts.
Poch’s No1 target to bolster his midfield is Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
But talks are at a standstill after an initial rejected £70m offer, with the Seagulls wanting either £100m or defender Levi Colwill in a swap deal.
The Argentinian coach has hinted that Caicedo’s arrival could be enough for the Blues to begin the Premier League campaign next month with confidence – but fears more work in the window will need to be done should Gallagher leave.
On West Ham’s interest in Gallagher, Poch said: “Both parts have to say and have to agree. At the moment, nothing to say. Conor is in our plans.
“I was talking with him the first day I arrived. In football, things can happen we cannot manage. At the moment, I am happy with him and his performance,
“He has two years on his contract.”
Caicedo is set to make his first appearance of pre-season on Wednesday evening, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi confirming the Ecuadorian international will play around 30 minutes of the against Brentford at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Chelsea take on Newcastle in the following match. When asked whether one new midfielder was enough for his squad, Poch said: “That’s the idea. The club is working on that.
“We need to add a player there. We need one more with experience.
“It depends on the situation of different players. We need at least one more and we are working on that. It depends on what happens in the next few weeks.”
Poch is set to welcome back Reece James against the Toon. The full-back missed the start of Chelsea’s pre-season following an illness, and has not played since April due to a hamstring injury.
A Blues captain ahead of the new season is yet to be named, with the manager wanting to wait until the last minute so he can observe the entire squad for potential candidates.
On whether academy boy James, 23, is an option, Pochettino explained: “He is one of the possibilities. We are talking from day one about his objectives and how he was in the last few years at the club.
“He feels Chelsea, he came from the academy. He is one of the profile and players that can be the present and future captain of the club.”
James – who has been at Chelsea for 15 years – said: “It is something I have always dreamt of. When the time is right hopefully it happens.
“Everyone has a different way of being a leader. Some speak, some show their actions. I could do both.”
He added: “It is early to say what we can achieve together. This is Chelsea and we are ambitious and we don’t enter anything not to win.
“I don’t see why us winning this season is not possible. We have a strong group and will only get stronger.”
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