Chelsea transfer news: Neymar will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury as the Blues look to reignite previous interest ahead of the summer window
Mauricio Pochettino worked with Chelsea target Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain (Image: (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images))
Mauricio Pochettino could help Todd Boehly complete his Chelsea transfer mission for Neymar, however there is a worrying problem in the way. Ever since taking over the club last summer, the Chelsea co-owner has shown strong interest in a number of football’s superstars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The latter two names on that list also have links to Pochettino from their time together at Paris Saint-Germain. If Boehly brings in Pochettino as manager, the chances of the Blues acquiring either of those stars may have shot up considerably.
After dismissing Graham Potter, Chelsea look to be taking their time over their next permanent managerial appointment. Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann were the early front-runners but both men are no longer in the race, with Pochettino now as the firm favourite.
While in recent transfer windows the priority at Chelsea was to bring in new players, a major summer clear out is now desperately needed at Stamford Bridge. However, if the opportunity to sign Neymar was on the table it would likely be hard to turn down and according to The Mirror, the Blues could reignite their interest.
Having the former Tottenham boss at the helm ahead of the 2023/24 season would also hand Boehly and co. a significant advantage. However, Pochettino himself may have sent his potential new employers a transfer warning regarding Neymar that he endured during his tenure in France.
As quoted by Goal in November 2022, he said: “It [PSG] was the experience we needed, the experience of living with big stars and interacting at the top level of football. It was the challenge of putting yourself in a difficult situation and trying to make such a special club work.
“You need to constantly adapt because there was too much greatness. For Barca to have Messi or for Madrid to have Cristiano is a blessing.
“But when you put in too many players who all need their place and to be number one, there can be confusion. In the end, when you play, it’s 11 players with one ball. There was a penalty, and who takes it? It’s not even a coach’s decision.”
Joining Neymar and Messi in the Parisians attack was Kylian Mbappe and that was a lot of big personalities for Pochettino to deal with. Chelsea don’t quite currently have the same level of stars, but in an overcrowded squad adding another big name into the mix could be detrimental to the long-term project in west London that Boehly may trust Pochettino with.
Source: football.london
