Mauricio Pochettino is planning a £132m move for midfielders to complete the rebuilding of Chelsea midfield.

Mauricio Pochettino, the new manager of Chelsea, is reportedly keen on adding depth to the Blues’ midfield and has identified Moises Caicedo of Brighton and Manuel Ugarte of Sporting CP as his top targets. It’s believed that Chelsea could make a double swoop for the midfielders, which could cost as much as £132 million.

Pochettino will officially take charge of Chelsea on July 1st, and has inherited a midfield that consists of seven players. However, the futures of Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been the subject of intense speculation, while N’Golo Kante is over 30 years old and Carney Chukwuemeka is still a teenager. This leaves only Enzo Fernandez unaccounted for, so it makes sense for Pochettino to focus on adding fresh legs to his midfield.

The first player on Pochettino’s radar is Moises Caicedo, who has been linked with Chelsea since the January transfer window. Brighton could allow the Ecuadorian to leave this summer, and the Blues are reportedly willing to pay up to £80 million for the 21-year-old. Caicedo has impressed with his pace, power, and versatility, and has emerged as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

The second player that Pochettino wants to bring to Chelsea is Manuel Ugarte of Sporting CP. The Uruguayan has caught the eye in both the Primeira Liga and the Champions League, and has a release clause of £52 million. Chelsea will face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool for his signature.

If Chelsea were to sign both Caicedo and Ugarte, it would be a major boost to their midfield and soften the blow of any potential departures this summer. Pochettino is known for his ability to develop young talent, and both Caicedo and Ugarte have the potential to become key players for the Blues in the coming years.

Overall, it’s clear that Pochettino is focused on strengthening Chelsea’s midfield this summer. With Caicedo and Ugarte on his radar, the Blues could be set for a busy transfer window as they look to compete for silverware next season.