MAURICIO POCHETTINO could set up a deadly new attacking line-up at Chelsea if he is the manager for next season.
The Argentine boss is the favourite to take over the reins from interim coach Frank Lampard at the end of the current campaign.
One of the first jobs, Pochettino will have will be to sort out the club’s misfiring attack.
He will have Romelu Lukaku, 29, back at the club following the expiry of his loan spell at Inter Milan.
Talks will be held to try to make him give England another go after his disappointing season under previous Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
Which could see the Belgian international paired with Joao Felix.
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The Portuguese attacker looks set to stay at the Blues for another season, even without Champions League football.
Simeone is keen to make the move permanent but Atletico Madrid chiefs want £88m for the Portuguese international.
Felix, 23, is settled in London and happy to stay but wants assurances from the incoming permanent boss – expected to be Mauricio Pochettino – that he will get game time.
With that and with Chelsea reluctant to pay the full asking price for Felix, a compromise second loan is likely.
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It is also thought that Pochettino considers Mykhailo Mudryk and loaned defender Levi Colwill as potential future which could see them given chances in the team.
Colwill has progressed during his loan spell at Brighton, helping the club challenge for European football next season.
The youngster has been able to do this while dealing with the change of manager from Graham Potter to Roberto De Zerbi.
This could see a potential shift in formation with Colwill coming in for Thiago Silva and Mudryk in for Kai Havertz.
Pochettino could also hand a chance to Noni Madueke to impress on the right wing.
The English winger has barely had a look in since his arrival from PSV in January.
Madueke has only featured six times despite starring in Holland over the previous three seasons.
Another possibility for Chelsea would be to play a strike partnership with Felix behind the front two.
And with Harry Kane potentially heading for the exit at Tottenham, it would not be the craziest thing to see Chelsea make a move for him.
The England captain and Pochettino worked together at Spurs and it would also give him the option to stay living in London.
This would save Kane the hassle of having to potentially up-root his family to move them up north after being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
