Mauricio Pochettino says he would be crazy not to take an active part in Chelsea’s recruitment strategy during the January transfer window.
Signings at the Stamford Bridge club are overseen by sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, with input from joint director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields. Partner Behdad Eghbali is also a prominent figure in recent showcases.
It has been described as a collaborative system rather than one led by a manager – but Pochettino, who targets defenders and forwards, wants to have his own say in signings.
“Obviously it would be crazy for the manager, coach or manager to think that he would not be involved in any decisions about the future of my area,” the Chelsea boss said. “Of course we’ll share it with the owners, the sporting director and myself, and I can’t imagine not being involved.”
Chelsea have spent around £1bn on signings owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Attrition has continued and hopes of signing strikers such as Brentford’s Ivan Toney or Napoli’s Victor Osimhen may depend on funds raised through sales next month. Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah and Noni Madueke face uncertain futures, while Conor Gallagher Gallagher may sell if its valuation is met.
Gallagher, who has been a target for Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and West Ham United, is out of contract at the end of next season and financial fairness concerns could tempt Chelsea to offload the midfielder. However, this did not sit well with Pochettino. Gallagher, an academy player and Chelsea fan, has been in good form this season and has regularly captained the team.
However, Pochettino said he remains aligned with the top brass on signings. Asked if he expected the window to be quieter than last summer, he said: “Yes, of course. That’s not only my advice but how we share it with the owners and the sporting directors. The communication between us is very Well, we talk every day and we make decisions because we all agree.”
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Chelsea, who are 10th ahead of Saturday’s trip to Luton, named the youngest starting XI in Premier League history for their midweek win over Crystal Palace. “It’s more about being consistent,” Pochettino added. “That’s the challenge. With the players we have, we can have a very good season, but we need to improve. There’s talent, but it’s not enough. It’s also about mentality.”
