Mauricio Pochettino needs to trim his Chelsea squad (Picture: Getty)
Mauricio Pochettino has already made plans to trim his Chelsea squad and is prepared to sell Marc Cucurella amid new interest from Newcastle United, according to reports.
Pochettino will inherit a bloated squad when he arrives at Stamford Bridge next month, with former managers Graham Potter and Frank Lampard both complaining about the volume of players at Chelsea last season.
Selling some unused talent will not only make it easier for Pochettino as he looks to take Chelsea back up the table, but also raise some much-needed funds following the club’s remarkable spending spree over the last 12 months.
Chelsea’s American owners have spent almost £600m on new signings and intend to splash more cash this summer as they look to bring Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson – among others – to west London.
A number of players are expected to leave Stamford Bridge to compensate for the new arrivals and Pochettino is prepared to lose Cucurella, according to the Daily Mirror.
Eyebrows were raised when Chelsea spent more than £60m on the Brighton left-back this time last year and the deal looked even more questionable as the Spaniard struggled last season.
Despite his stock falling at Stamford Bridge, Cucurella still has admirers in the Premier League and is attracting interest from Newcastle.
Marc Cucurella largely struggled at Stamford Bridge last season (Picture: Getty)
The Magpies enjoyed a superb 2022-23 campaign, finishing fourth and booking their place in next season’s Champions League.
As a result, Eddie Howe wants to welcome a number of new signings to St James’ Park, including a left-back having been heavily linked with a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.
Cucurella has emerged as another option but Newcastle only want to pay around £30m for the 24-year-old, who was bought for twice as much 12 months ago.
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Discussing Newcastle’s summer transfer plans at the end of the season, Howe said: ‘I hoped to do some things and I don’t think making the Champions League changes the numbers.
‘We’ll have to produce a squad for the Champions League, so top-four won’t change the amount of signings.
‘As I’ve said, it won’t be a lot of numbers and a lot of big moves in. Hopefully it’ll be the right two or three players to make us better.’
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A move to St James’ Park could be on the cards.