Mauricio Pochettino can build his perfect Chelsea midfield by simply signing Manuel Ugarte this summer. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League recently following his impressive performances for Sporting CP.
Ugarte has featured 47 times for the Portuguese outfit this season, helping Ruben Amorim's side venture into the Europa League quarter-finals. His eye-catching displays have reportedly courted the attention of some big clubs around Europe, and his could be available for half the price of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
According to Sky Sports, the Blues have held talks over signing Ugarte, who has a €60million (£52m) release clause. The Uruguay international sees his contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade expire in 2026 and the Sporting boss has already conceded that he could leave this summer.
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When quizzed on Ugarte's future by O Jogo, Amorim said: "I cannot comment on this issue, because it is beyond me. Now, we know that it is difficult to keep players like Ugarte. Not only one club is interested, but several.
"Our objective is to sell, knowing that we missed the Champions League and it makes everything more difficult. I know what I want for the team and I have already conveyed that to the management."
Ugarte would be a shrewd acquisition for Chelsea, but he and Enzo Fernandez will need a third musketeer. So, with that being said, football.london have taken a look at Pochettino's perfect midfield three.
The Playmaker
Under Pochettino, Fernandez is expected to be freed from the shackles of the holding midfield responsibilities. While the 22-year-old did an excellent job at pulling the strings from deep, he's better placed further forward as an eight.
This is where he played for Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar – and we know how that story ended. Fernandez won't necessarily be urged to bomb forward, but he will be urged to find pockets of space and create chances.
With Ugarte at the base of midfield offering protection, Fernandez will have far more freedom to do what he does best.
The Tough-Tackler
Chelsea have been in desperate need of a holding midfielder a few years now, and Ugarte looks primed to take on the responsibility. Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo have both been previously linked with a move to west London, though Arsenal are well-positioned to sign both after clinching Champions League.
The Jack of all Trades
The third and final mystery midfielder completing the trident is Carney Chukwuemeka. The teenage midfielder has been starved of opportunities for Chelsea this season following his summer move despite having always performed well when called upon.
He could provide great balance alongside Fernandez and Ugarte by operating as an advanced eight. While the Argentinean pulls the strings from deep and the Uruguayan sits between the two centre-halves, Chukwuemeka can play the box-to-box role.
One of his standout qualities is his ability to slalom past defenders and launch attacks from midfield. At just 19, Pochettino can mould Chukwuemeka into any role he desires so the world is his oyster.
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