According to reports, Inter Milan and Argentina star Lautaro Martinez ‘would love’ to work with new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The forward did not make much of an impact at last year’s World Cup but his form for Inter Milan over the past year has been superb.
The 25-year-old grabbed 28 goals and 11 assists in his 57 appearances for the Italian giants across all competitions and he helped them reach the Champions League final.
Inter Milan are in a tough financial position so they may be forced to sell a couple of their prized assets. Martinez, Nicolo Barella and Denzel Dumfries are all being linked with moves elsewhere.
One of Pochettino’s main priorities this summer will be to find a solution to Chelsea’s woes in front of goal after they only scored 38 Premier League goals last season.
The Blues have already spent around £30m to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal and now they are said to be looking at Martinez as another potential target.
The attacker is reportedly eyeing a ‘box office’ summer transfer. The £60m-rated star is being targeted by Man Utd but in a potential blow to the Red Devils, Football Insider are now reporting that he ‘wants to team up with Pochettino at Chelsea’.
Martinez is ‘keen’ on a move to England. There is ‘mutual respect’ between himself and Pochettino, with the outlet’s apparent ‘sources’ indicating that the player ‘would love’ to be managed by the former Tottenham head coach.
Pochettino is also looking to sign a midfielder who can play alongside Enzo Fernandez and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is among their top targets in that area.
The Ecuador international was pursued by Arsenal in January, but they have since switched their focus to Declan Rice, who is set to sign for them for a potential total fee of £105m.
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90min are reporting that Chelsea are ‘preparing to make an opening offer to Brighton to sign Caicedo’. They later add.
‘Brighton are currently holding out for £100m and have indicated to the player’s camp that they will only sell for a price they deem fair market value.
‘Chelsea, for their part, have done their homework on Caicedo and feel he will be the perfect addition to their midfield – and especially crucial given they have lost the experienced Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante from their midfield so far this summer.
‘Caicedo is desired by Chelsea to be a part of their midfield overhaul and 90min understands that even if this deal is finalised, that the Blues could look for more additions in the middle of the pitch. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia remains under consideration.
‘The Southampton midfielder is set to be at the centre of a Premier League tug-of-war however, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle all showing interest in the player themselves to varying degrees.’
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