Chelsea devise thrilling three-man midfield shortlist as Pochettino offers lifeline to West Ham, Brighton target

Chelsea are ready to reinvest in their midfield after losing several players from the position, with reports revealing what the department could look like next season.

Before Mauricio Pochettino has even been able to take charge of a game for Chelsea, they have lost N’Golo Kante to Al Ittihad, Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City, Ruben Loftus-Cheek to AC Milan, Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Mason Mount to Man Utd.

Chelsea will need to replenish the ranks in midfield after also losing Denis Zakaria after his generally ineffective loan spell from Juventus.

They broke the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January, but now need to find ideal colleagues for him in the middle of the park.

With that in mind, 90min has shared the main three targets Chelsea are considering. As the website relays, they are interested in Moises Caicedo, Rayan Cherki and Gabri Veiga.

Caicedo is their top target after already establishing himself in the Premier League with Brighton. He will not come cheap, but the Blues are preparing a bid regardless.

Cherki, meanwhile, recently emerged as a target after breaking through with Lyon, who coincidentally were speaking to Chelsea about the idea of taking Christian Pulisic in the opposite direction until it became clear the American winger is more likely to follow Loftus-Cheek to Milan.

And Veiga has become one of Europe’s most in-demand midfield prospects after a breakout season at Celta Vigo. Chelsea would be far from his only bidders if they were to make a move.

It seems Chelsea may try to sign two of the three in order to complement Fernandez in a new-look midfield department.

For the time being, though, Pochettino will assess the other options he is inheriting, including young talents like Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos.

Gallagher gets Chelsea lifeline from Pochettino

Another existing Chelsea contender for a midfield place is Conor Gallagher. Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed he has admirers at Newcastle and West Ham, though.

An update from talkSPORT is suggesting that Gallagher may yet be offered another chance to prove himself at Chelsea by Pochettino.

Last season was the first time Gallagher got to compete for a first-team place on a consistent basis for the Blues after previously enduring several loan spells away.

He ended the campaign with 45 appearances across all competitions, but there has been a theory that he may get more starting opportunities at a different club.

In something of a twist, though, talkSPORT has revealed that Pochettino wants to take a closer look at Gallagher.

The radio station confirms West Ham have been wanting him, while also naming Brighton as another potential taker.

Pochettino thinks there could be a place for Gallagher to grab, though, if he takes his chance in pre-season. There are still two years remaining on the academy graduate’s contract at Stamford Bridge.

Whereas other academy products like Loftus-Cheek and Mount have left during Chelsea’s attempts to balance the books, Gallagher – who is still only 23 years old – might be able to fight for his place in Pochettino’s evolving squad.