Chelsea could sign £33m midfield technician for cut price as welcome gift for Pochettino

Chelsea are set to welcome Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager. In the summer, Chelsea will look to sign a midfielder to partner Enzo Fernandez as the futures of Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount remains uncertain. Chelsea could potentially take a look at Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.

Southampton are on their way down to the Championship and with the drop to the second tier of English football, the possibility of a fire sale arises. The Saints have an exciting crop of players that are too good for the Championship and deserve to play in the Premier League. The likes of Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Ward-Prowse are some players that will instantly attract attention from the top clubs in England and Europe.

Chelsea’s squad rebuild is set to enter the third transfer window as the Blues have splashed over £600 million in the last two transfer windows to overhaul the squad. Some of the transfers have been instant hits whereas some transfers have been underwhelming, failing to live up to the expectations.

Chelsea could consider signing James Ward-Prowse as a welcome gift for Pochettino

The current Chelsea midfield comprises of Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic, Gallagher, Ruben-Loftus Cheek and Mason Mount. Mount occupies the attacking midfield positions, leaving the other five as central midfield options. Loftus-Cheek and Gallagher are expected to be sold as Chelsea prepares to balance their books by June 30th to avoid getting into any Financial Fair Play mess.

Kovacic will enter the final 12 months of his deal at Stamford Bridge in the summer and is being courted by Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City. Kante is close to signing a contract extension as he plans to stay in London but he is yet to put pen to paper, leaving an iota of doubt whether the Frenchman will continue at Chelsea.

When multiple midfield exits could be on the cards, CFC will have to reinforce the engine room or they risk disrupting the balance for next season. With Pochettino’s appointment on the cards, signing Southampton’s Ward-Prowse might just be the perfect welcome gift for the Argentine.

Given Saints’ relegation, the midfield technician could be available for a cut price as is the case for most players who face relegation. He is valued at £33 million by Transfermarkt but will be available for a much cheaper price if he decides to leave the Saints.

The duo worked together at Southampton when Pochettino was the manager of the south coast side. The Englishman just played 27 games under Pochettino as he was still in the starting stages of his professional career but even at that time the Argentine was in awe of Ward-Prowse and described him as a role model.

Ward-Prowse is lethal from dead-ball situations and is a low risk signing. Perhaps, his signing will not create as much noise as other big money arrivals, but he has the appetite and profile to get the job done in midfield.

Will CFC sign James Ward-Prowse?