£200,000-per-week Chelsea star could follow Pochettino out
According to a journalist’s sources, one player who was earning £200,000 per week for Chelsea now faces an unclear future, with his position not “100 per cent safe” as the summer transfer window draws near.
Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea is announced, and several players may follow him
According to the official announcement, Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea parted ways by mutual consent on Tuesday night. This news ends months of rumors about the Argentine’s future at Stamford Bridge.
After a stormy first half of 2023–2024, Pochettino faced the fury of supporters for a considerable amount of time. It was a hectic first season for him. However, things took a much better turn in the later stages.
Barring their 5-0 defeat at Arsenal, Chelsea hit an excellent run of form midway through February – winning 12 out of their final 20 games in all competitions and losing just three of them. They also tasted victory in five out of their final five Premier League games, a run which saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League and end the campaign on a real high.
They were only five points off a place in the top four, which few would’ve predicted for them when they were languishing far behind in midtable over the winter period. However, Chelsea chiefs have now seen fit to part company with Pochettino, and the search begins for a new manager.
Chelsea are believed to have held loose talks with Thomas Tuchel as one option (Florian Plettenberg), while the likes of Thomas Frank and Vincent Kompany are thought to be admired at Stamford Bridge as well (BBC).
Whoever comes in to replace Pochettino will have to contend with potentially losing a few big name players as well, with Conor Gallagher thought to be up for sale at Chelsea despite his starring role over 23/24.
The Englishman is entering the final 12 months of his contract and there has been little progress in the way of an extension. As well as the usual suspects like Gallagher, there is now also a belief that £200,000-per-week defender Ben Chilwell isn’t safe from the axe either.
Journalist thinks Chilwell could leave Chelsea
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones says people he’s spoken to think Chilwell could be sold by Chelsea and faces an uncertain future, coming after his omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
“It’s a big blow for him not to be in the England squad and he will be looked at as a big casualty for not even making the provisional side, especially as Luke Shaw made it,” said Jones.
“This will now lead into a longer conversation about his club future because his spot at Chelsea is not 100 per cent safe.
“Personally I think he will stay, I think we will see him bounce back from a frustrating season and the injuries that have held him back. But there are people I speak to who are a little more doubtful about that.”