Mauricio Pochettino is starting to orchestrate some major Chelsea moves with the summer transfer window having been opened for nearly a week. Securing numerous outgoings appears to be the immediate priority but the work being done to sign targets this summer is starting to become more clear.
Regarding those exits, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount could all leave the club to sign for direct Premier League rivals. Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech could all join N'Golo Kante in finalising a move to Saudi Arabia, with the Frenchman completing his Al Ittihad medical earlier this month to sign a four-year contract worth €100million (£83.5).
Ruben Loftus-Cheek also looks set for a departure while there is an expectation that Conor Gallagher will not be a Chelsea player come the start of the 2023/24 season. With significant focus on those moving on from west London, making key additions has been somewhat glossed over, however Pochettino has two aims for the upcoming week involving Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo.
As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Villareal striker Jackson has a €35million release clause which Chelsea intend to match and pay through instalments. Negotiations regarding that payment will take place in the coming days and with a medical likely to follow, the Blues are hopeful of completing that signing before the end of the week.
As for Caicedo, football.london reported in May that Chelsea were expected to push for a move to sign him from Brighton and that is exactly what is happening. A £60million bid was sent from Stamford Bridge for the midfielder in early June that was immediately rejected but the Blues plan to return with a second bid after Brighton set their asking price at around £100million.
Personal terms are thought not to be a glaring issue and Chelsea are now aiming to make significant progress to sign the 21-year-old this week, as per Evening Standard. The west Londoners matching the price tag set by Brighton could be helped by a major sale or two going through imminently especially with the June 30 FFP deadline fast approaching.
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Interest in Caicedo was expected but the links to Jackson came as a slight surprise. A striker addition was necessary this summer but many were expecting an elite level acquisition, however it looks as though Chelsea may be securing the perfect signing.
Speaking to WiwSport, Jackson's agent Diomansy Kamara said: "We know his qualities. But he must continue working. Now, we will see what will happen this summer. We know that there are many possibilities that go to another club at the beginning of the season.
"He would have liked to join the Premier League, but it did not happen. And then he went back to work and exploded even more in Villarreal. As I said, it is a club with which we have good relations. They opened the door for Nicolas Jackson and allowed him to grow. We will never forget that. But if both parties can win, contributing money to Villarreal and having a new sports project for us, we are not going to close the door.
"Now we have offers on the table. We are in the process of evaluating them and, shortly, you will have news regarding their situation."
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