Marc Cucurella £60m dilemma as Chelsea face FFP transfer uncertainty
Chelsea might be in the FA Cup semi-final and have 11 matches left to play in the Premier League this season, but some people’s attention has already turned to the 2024 summer transfer window.
The future of Mauricio Pochettino remains uncertain with the club set to assess the Argentine’s situation in the summer. That has always been the plan and a lot will likely rely on what happens between now and the conclusion of the campaign.
But whether or not Pochettino is still with the club to oversee what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window remains to be seen. Either way, Chelsea are expected to address a few key areas over the summer, while some players are set to be shipped off to help the club fall in line with the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the club’s two technical directors, are set for a busy summer again as Chelsea look to strengthen their options after a season that has shown a few big weaknesses in the squad. With that said, Bobby Vincent takes a look at some areas that are bound to be addressed before the start of the 2024/25 season.
Where will Chelsea look to add this summer?
Goalkeeper may have been one area the club had plans for this summer but the form of Djordje Petrovic will have changed their minds on that. The Serbian shot-stopper has been excellent for the Blues since breaking into the first-team at the end of 2023 and in Robert Sanchez, Pochettino has a more than adequate back-up option.
Despite Marc Cucurella impressing since his return from injury, the club view him as an expendable option. The Spaniard will not be short of interest in the summer but the Blues may find it difficult to recoup the £60million fee they paid Brighton in the summer of 2022.
Ian Maatsen signed a new contract upon his agreement to join Borussia Dortmund until the summer. But the future of the Netherlands international remains up in the air with the Blues still viewing him as someone that could be sold to help with PSR in the summer.
Antonee Robinson from Fulham, who has been really impressive for the Cottagers this season, has been looked at. However, there is nothing more than an admiration for the American left-back as it stands, although that could change in the summer window.
A central defender is likely to be an area of interest. Chelsea are preparing for life without Thiago Silva, with the likes of Ousmane Diomande, Marc Guehi and Jean-Clair Todibo all of interest to the Blues.
A wide attacker and a striker are being looked at. Raheem Sterling is happy at Chelsea despite recent criticism, including the winger facing mass boos during his poor performance against Leicester City at the weekend.
There is – and has been since last summer – interest from Saudi Arabia in Sterling. The 29-year-old, though, remains committed to Chelsea with his contract at Stamford Bridge still having more than three years left to run.
Victor Osimhen is the club’s top striker target still despite Paris Saint-Germain now being firmly in the race to sign the Nigerian striker. Viktor Gyokeres has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea with the Sweden international scoring 36 goals in all competitions this season for Sporting CP.
There were rumours the Blues made an offer to the Portuguese club in January for Gyokeres.
The big one in terms of possible departures is Conor Gallagher. Chelsea have not offered the England international an extension on his deal just yet, with his contract set to expire in just over 12 months’ time.
Pochettino has been asked about Gallagher, who would like to stay at Chelsea in an ideal world, plenty of times in recent months. The Argentine, though, believes he is powerless in the situation and it is instead down to the player and the club.
“It is between the club and Conor,” Pochettino said at the start of the month. “I am the coach that needs to be in my place. I cannot say nothing.”
