New Chelsea manager Mauricio will run the rule over the future of some players at the club in the coming days.
Three players whose future is hanging in the air are N’Golo Kanté, Romelu Lukaku, and Mason Mount. Kanté is into the final months of his contract and has not signed a contract extension while Mount is also running into the final year of his contract and is stalling over signing a contract extension. Lukaku on the other hand had a poor season on his return to Chelsea which led to his loan to Inter Milan this season and also fell out with the fans after granting an infamous interview.
What does Pochettino do with these players?
1. Mason Mount: He has been Chelsea’s best player in two of the last three seasons but was poor in the last campaign as he struggled for form and fitness.
While there are rumors that he has agreed to personal terms with Manchester United, he remains a Chelsea player. He is a player that Pochettino should convince the club to keep and be given the assurance that he is a vital role to play.
I believe Mount can play the same role Dele Alli played for Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur especially if he opts for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
VERDICT: KEEP
2. Romelu Lukaku: The big Belgian striker struggled in his first season back at the club but remains a quality player. If Chelsea were to buy a quality striker this summer, they will be spending more than 100 million Euros.
Why spend that much when you have got one of the best strikers in Europe in your ranks, especially at a time when the club will not be playing European football and need to downsize its wage bill?
All Poch needs to do is convince him that he has a place in his team and be ready to play to his strengths.
Once he starts scoring, the fans will forget he ever granted that infamous interview where he disrespected the club.
Keeping him would also allow Armando Broja to grow can easily succeed him when his power wanes or whenever he decides to call it quit
By that, Chelsea will be saving themselves a lot of money now and in the future all things being equal.
VERDICT: KEEP
3. N’Golo Kanté: He has been one of Chelsea’s best players in recent years and his struggles with injuries are one of the reasons Chelsea struggled in the just-concluded season.
According to Transfermarkt, the French man missed 38 games due to injuries and also missed 15 the previous season.
While he remains a quality player, his injury record in the last two seasons is a red flag and should be a signal to the club that he should be let go.
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