A new goalkeeper and a number nine are all Mauricio Pochettino needs to revive Chelsea's fortunes, according to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Pochettino, who will take over on July 1. The former Spurs boss inherits a squad which vastly underperformed in the 2022-23 season under several managers, finishing in the bottom half of the table after ending the previous season in third.
The Blues spent big last summer and again in January, as they looked to rebuild their squad under new owner Todd Boehly. They are likely to need to sell as well as buy in the upcoming window, but Wright believes wholesale additions are not required.
"I don’t think Pochettino needs to do much this summer because of the calibre of coach he is and how good he is with young players and how he can organise a team,’ Wright said on Match of the Day. "If you look at what Chelsea have got, probably sign a goalkeeper this summer, definitely a number nine – but when you look at what they’ve got in the squad, they’ve got enough pieces.
"He needs to cut the squad down a bit and bring in some quality. They’ve already got quality but bring in a bit more. Chelsea fans should be excited about Pochettino because he will sort this out."
Chelsea have flitted between Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy as their first-choice goalkeeper, with the Spaniard used more regularly last season. In attack, meanwhile, the future of former club record signing Romelu Lukaku remains uncertain amid suggestions his loan at Inter Milan could be extended for a second season.
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"We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea," the club's owners said in a joint statement announcing the appointment. "Mauricio is a world-class coach with an outstanding track record. We are all looking forward to having him on board."
The Argentine spent several years in charge of Tottenham, securing a second-place finish behind Chelsea in 2017 and reaching the Champions League final two years later. More recently, he won Ligue 1 in his first full season with Paris Saint-Germain after succeeding Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea are due to welcome Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto this summer, with both deals wrapped up before Pochettino's arrival. Right-back Gusto joined from Lyon in January but finished the season on loan at the French club, while Nkunku will arrive from RB Leipzig.
As for departures, Mason Mount remains in high demand ahead of his contract expiring in 2024. The England international is expected to remain in the Premier League if he does move on, with Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool all linked.
