Mauricio Pochettino already has a £12m answer to Chelsea’s big problem exposed by Frank Lampard

Chelsea transfer news: Signing a goalkeeper is high on summer priorities, but new manager Mauricio Pochettino could decide otherwise

Mauricio Pochettino’s task of solving several problems with Chelsea this summer will not be easy. The Blues’ performance on the pitch has been disappointing to say the least, and decisions made at board level over the past 12 months have been greatly questioned.

The first job that Pochettino has to do is the summer transfer market. While three key positions require additions to the first team, clearing as many exits as possible can be seen as a priority ahead of the 2023/24 season.

According to Chelsea’s official website, there were 27 first-team players at the club, including loan spells but no loan spells, showing that departures would need to be in double figures if additions are to be made.

Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria will both return to Atletico Madrid and Juventus respectively, following Pochettino’s decision, they will not be bought outright at the end of their loan spells in West London.

His next key choice for the summer is likely to come as signing a new midfielder is his transfer priority and the player he wants in that position is already known.

Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte looks set for a move this summer and Pochettino is doing everything he can to ensure he is his first official signing at the club.

A forward and goalkeeper have also been identified as positions where the Blues are hoping to add a first choice option with no natural senior striker, minus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, to the club and are struggling to block Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy at No. .1 point on goal.

The latter appears to be one of many to leave the club as contract talks continue this season with no progress. Kepa’s future remains unclear and although he has impressed at points in the season, a new goalkeeper seems likely to be signed.

Inter Milan’s Andre Onana is the main name connected, with Chelsea even trying to offer a swap involving Kepa to take the former Ajax star to Stamford Bridge. That offer was quickly rejected but interest from the Blues remains, but an already completed £12m transfer could give Pochettino the perfect answer to his stopper problem.

Gabriel Slonina has yet to make a senior appearance since he signed for the club from Chicago Fire last summer, but he continues to impress.

Ridiculous first team saves, strong performances in Premier League 2 and incredible saves and performances at international level have already given fans a taste of his qualities. The latter is currently being used with Slonina in the U20 World Cup with the USMNT at the time of writing where he is yet to concede a goal.

In the group stage, the United States beat Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia before beating New Zealand 4-0 in the round of 16, and those four wins all came with four goals conceded for Slonina.

Pochettino has been known to try his luck with younger players and might decide to give the 19-year-old a chance to impress in pre-season before finally opting for a loan move.

Frank Lampard’s decision to give Mendy one last chance against Nottingham Forest to salvage his Chelsea career proved once again the need for a goalkeeper addition, but the Argentine could sense he already had the perfect solution at the moment.