Chelsea news and transfer live as Pochettino job in the balance
Chelsea ended the Premier League season on a high, winning their final five games and qualifying for Europe. A not unimpressive achievement from Mauricio Pochettino and his players given everything that has happened this season.
Pochettino has been under constant pressure, with questions over his future rife throughout a campaign in which the Blues struggled regularly. But their form in 2024 was better than all but the top three sides in the league and has led to renewed optimism for next season.
Will Pochettino be in charge to oversee it, or will the Chelsea owners go in a new direction once again? And what will that mean for their summer transfer plans? The Blues will likely be in the market for more new signings, having spent more than £1billion already under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
There is also the question of outgoings, with the likes of Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling being linked with an exit from the club. We've got all the latest news from around Stamford Bridge live as it happens right here.
22:28Jack Flintham
We will leave you this evening with what Pochettino has said about next season at Stamford Bridge. The boss appears to be keeping a firm eye on the new season despite speculation swirling around.
Always, you can improve. They are going to be much better next season because they will have one year of experience, a tough experience. That is the advantage of being solid and consistent and not making too many changes. Next season if we keep 80-85% of the squad, for sure, it is a big step forward because it is about having continuity in the ideas and the knowledge between them. That is important for the club.
21:47Jack Flintham
While Gallagher could be in the shop window, owner Boehly has already been sent a clear message by Moises Caicedo on why he should not be sold this summer.
Speaking in April, the central midfielder said:
With Conor he is like a machine. I like to play with Conor and Enzo. With Conor because there are some different characteristics. Enzo is more of an offensive player and Conor is more defensive, he helped me a lot when we need to recover the ball back, it's amazing to play with both.
21:16Jack Flintham
Unfortunately for Cole, he may not gain his wish of keeping Gallagher at Stamford Bridge this summer.
A report from The Telegraph on Monday explained that the Blues are willing to listen to offers for Gallagher once the transfer window opens. Chalobah, Broja and Maatsen are the other players who are also in the shop window according to the article with the centre-back having a £25m price tag on his head.
Gallagher would be the most surprising departure out of the quartet considering he has made 50 appearances across all competitions this season.
20:48Jack Flintham
Chelsea icon Joe Cole is adamant that it would be a mistake if the Blues were to sell Conor Gallagher this summer.
Gallagher has previously been linked with a move to rivals Spurs but that failed to materialise. He has since become an integral part of the squad and has worn the captain's armband this season.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Cole said:
Conor Gallagher can't leave. I know there are issues financially but Conor Gallagher has been brilliant, from start to finish. Everyone has turned up in the last few weeks but Conor, you see a great player when he is playing in a struggling team. Conor was still there, captain as well. I think it is imperative that the club keeps him.
20:13Jack Flintham
Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has expressed doubts that Pochettino will be remaining at Chelsea heading into next season after what he has heard from inside the club.
He told his Vibe with Five podcast:
From what I'm hearing about Mauricio Pochettino, I'm not sure he's going to be there at Chelsea. The mutterings I'm hearing coming out, I don't know if it's going to end well there. I don't think it's in their (the fans') hands. I think it's the hierarchy and I think there could be a decision being made between those guys. I don't think he'll be there (next season), if I was a betting man.
19:38Jack Flintham
Reports circulated earlier today that Dortmund are keen on making Maatsen their player on a permanent basis after the Champions League final in a fortnight's time.
Should he leave, it appears a replacement has already been discovered in the form of Feyenoord's Quilindschy Hartman. In a recent interview with ESPN, Hartman confirmed he had received contact from the Blues.
I don’t think they want me now, but they really wanted me. It actually started in the winter. They came to Feyenoord last winter break, but I actually didn’t want it at that time, because I had only just broken through and I only started playing everything in the first six months. Also, with the Dutch national team and the European Championship coming up. So, there was no real question about it and it was also clear from Feyenoord: we were open to it in the summer, but not at all now. That has returned in recent months. They really wanted me and I was certainly open to that, but now unfortunately things have turned out differently [due to an injury]. They [Chelsea] have wished me good luck and let me know that the interest will not stop. Who knows, we will see.
19:12Jack Flintham
Speaking on the future of the Chelsea managerial job, Mourinho has been offered a new role...
It may relieve (or disappoint) you to know that the new offer is not to be Pochettino's replacement at Stamford Bridge.
According to Sportitalia, Mourinho has been offered a role as a technical director by Saudi second-tier club Al-Qadisiyah.
It is not clear whether he would accept this role inside a Saudi club but Mourinho has expressed his interest in working in the country.
18:47Jack Flintham
Pochettino provided the latest update on his future following the victory over AFC Bournemouth on the final day of the season.
The Argentine told reporters:
I don't know if that [end of season review] is going to happen or not. I don't have any idea about this. All I can tell you is on Friday night, Todd invited me for a dinner and it was a very nice dinner together. But I don't know about the rumours about the review. My staff tomorrow are flying for their holidays. I am going to stay in London for a few more days. I am always open. My phone is going to be on.
So the Chelsea boss is certainly tight-lipped on what his future at the club has in store.
18:16Jack Flintham
My colleague Tom Coley was not wrong when he said that everyone is being linked with a switch to Bayern Munich at the moment.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting this evening that recently relegated Vincent Kompany has been talked about inside the German club as a possible replacement for Tuchel.
Fair to say then that Pochettino moving to the Allianz Arena may not be happening in a hurry.
17:47Tom Coley
Bare with us because everyone is linked with a move to Bayern these days.
But some speculation has suggested that Pochettino could be on the Bavarian side's list of possible managers.
It has been said elsewhere that they are only considering managers from teams outside of the top six, and Chelsea came sixth!
17:31Tom Coley
Ben Jacobs reports that Borussia Dortmund are keen on signing Ian Maatsen permanently this summer.
The Dutchman is currently on loan and will play in the Champions League final later this month.
Maatsen signed a new deal at Chelsea before leaving but that included a release clause of around £35million. He would represent 'pure profit' that boosts the club's financial position.
17:16Tom Coley
From expected news to quite shock news...
Aston Villa are close to signing Ross Barkley.
The player may well be back in the Champions League at his former club after Luton were relegated from the Premier League.
17:00Tom Coley
Liverpool have announced Arne Slot (to the surprise of nobody) as their new manager.
He will replace Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield dugout.
16:42Tom Coley
As well as Chalobah, Matt Law says that Chelsea will listen to offers for Conor Gallagher, Ian Maatsen, and Armando Broja this summer in order to boost their financial position.
Chelsea will be able to bank any sales into the 2023/24 accounts if they complete deals before June 30. That is just two weeks after the transfer window opens.
16:21Tom Coley
Chelsea have priced Trevoh Chalobah at just £25million as they prepare to welcome bids for a number of homegrown players this summer, the Telegraph writes.
The defender ended his season undefeated when starting matches after only making his appearance in February. He has impressed since though, becoming a key member of Mauricio Pochettino's team.
Chalobah signed a long-term deal in 2028.
15:59Tom Coley
Less than two months after having surgery, Enzo Fernandez has been included in Argentina's 26-man squad for pre-Copa America friendlies next month.
Three players from the group will be cut from the list before the tournament.
15:42Joe Doyle
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Chelsea have a verbal agreement with Romelu Lukaku that the striker can leave the club this summer if their valuation of £38million is met.
The Blues' stance has not changed since last year, when the Belgium international was also available on a permanent deal but eventually joined Roma on a one-year loan move.
According to Jacobs, there is sitll interest in the striker from Saudi Arabia - which he turned down last summer - while there have also been links to Napoli.
15:10Joe Doyle
Aston Villa are said to be interested in a move for Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.
The midfielder, who has captained the team on many occasions this season thanks to injury problems for club captain Reece James, will be out of contract next year. With such a short time left on his deal, this summer represents the last opportunity for the Blues to get a decent price for the 24-year-old.
And clubs elsewhere have certianly taken an interest. football.london understand that Tottenham are keen on the England international, who looks set to join up with his country for this summer's Euro 2024 championship.
And the Telegraph state that having qualified for the Champions League this season, Aston Villa have expressed an interest to Chelsea in Gallagher amid the Blues' own links to Villa attacker Jhon Duran - though a swap deal is said to be "highly unlikely" due to Gallagher's status as an academy product.
14:50Lee Wilmot
Gareth Southgate will name his England squad for Euro2024 tomorrow, with the tournament less than a month away now.
There could be a few Chelsea players in there with the likes of Conor Gallagher, Cole Palmer and Ben Chilwell expected to be named.
Here are the latest odds from Betfair on who could be in there.
Betfair: Chelsea players to make England’s Euro 2024 squad
Conor Gallagher 1/10
Cole Palmer 1/14
Ben Chilwell 3/10
Reece James 6/4
Levi Colwill 23/10
Raheem Sterling 14/1
Noni Madueke 40/1
14:27Joe Doyle
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino may be set to leave Chelsea.
He said on the Vibe with Five podcast...
"From what I’m hearing about Mauricio Pochettino, I’m not sure he’s going to be there at Chelsea. The mutterings I’m hearing coming out, I don’t know if it’s going to end well there."
13:56Lee Wilmot
Chelsea are closing in on a £56million deal to sign Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian.
The 17-year-old Palmeiras wonderkid has been attracting the attention of the world's best teams but it looks like Chelsea have won the race for his signature, with the teenager set to complete a move to the Premier League.
Read the TalkSport story here.
13:17Joe Doyle
It was a bit of a strange end to the season for Chelsea.
Five straight wins on the bounce helped return a feelgood factor to Stamford Bridge - but the events after the final game have left a slightly sour note.
It seems Mauricio Pochettino's future is once again up in the air - though the manager himself insists he does not know of any plans to relieve him of his duties following a dinner with club co-owener Todd Boehly.
The last few weeks have sent a clear message to club chiefs about the direction the Blues are heading.
12:48Lee Wilmot
We're already looking ahead to next season, with the current campaign only completed a day ago.
Who is going to win the title next time around? According to bookmakers Betfair, Chelsea are in with a shot.
The Blues won their last five games to finish sixth in the table - a fine achievement considering how their season was going.
Betfair: Premier League winner 2024/25
Man City: 13/10
Arsenal: 2/1
Liverpool: 7/1
Chelsea: 10/1
11:28Lee Wilmot
Hello and welcome to football.london's live blog covering everything that happens at CHelsea following the conclusion of the Premier League season.
The transfer window will not open until next month, but that will not stop the rumours and we will have you covered with all the latest news and gossip from around Stamford Bridge.
