Chelsea are trying to manoeuvre themselves into pole position to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan this summer and remain confident of concluding a deal for Mauricio Pochettino to become the club’s permanent head coach.
Onana has been linked with a host of European clubs, with Chelsea understood to be particularly keen on the Cameroon international.
Chelsea are expected to sell Edouard Mendy after failing to agree a contract extension with the 31-year-old, who has lost his number one spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Any bids for Kepa are likely to also be considered, but the Spaniard’s big wages mean he is less likely to leave for Stamford Bridge which means Chelsea must plan for a scenario in which he could stay.
While Chelsea may have to pay Inter around £40million to sign Onana, the 27-year-old’s salary is likely to fit within the club’s wage structure.
Chelsea are currently negotiating the final details of Pochettino’s contract to become the club’s next permanent head coach.
Telegraph Sport understands that an offer has been made to Pochettino and that Chelsea remain optimistic that the details of the deal will be agreed with the Argentine thought to be excited by the challenge, despite an awful run of six successive defeats.
Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Napoli’s Osimhen and Atalanta’s Hojlund
With Frank Lampard in caretaker charge until the end of the season, Chelsea and Pochettino have been able to conduct talks without the pressure of a deadline or needing to make a quick announcement.
Pochettino would need to give the green light to a move for Onana, with Chelsea plotting moves for a goalkeeper, striker and possibly a midfielder this summer.
Romelu Lukaku will be asked whether or not he wants to be part of Pochettino’s Chelsea revolution, but, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang likely to leave on a free transfer, another new striker could still arrive.
While Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and will no doubt get linked with Harry Kane because of his relationship with Pochettino, however unlikely a move might be, they are among a clutch of clubs also monitoring Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund has scored seven Serie A goals this season and netted five times in four appearances for Denmark, which has also reportedly sparked the interest of Manchester United.
Chelsea are planning to only make two or three key additions to their first-team squad, with the majority of their focus turned towards cutting the club’s oversized playing staff.
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