19 May 2023 , 19:05
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Mauricio Pochettino has given Chelsea his blessing to sign Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer with Edouard Mendy and Mateo Kovacic set to be among the Stamford Bridge exits.
The former Tottenham boss has agreed terms to take charge at the Blues from the start of next season. The Argentine is expected to fly into the UK in the next week from Spain to finalise the terms of a deal and outline his requirements for the role.
Chelsea and Inter are already set to be in negotiations this summer over Romelu Lukaku, who is set to return to Stamford Bridge following a season-long loan back at Inter. The Belgian joined Chelsea in a blockbuster £97.5million move two years ago but after struggling to live up to expectations, was shipped back out to the Serie A outfit on loan before the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
The Blues are hopeful of continuing their heavy investment under owner Todd Boehly this summer and have identified the goalkeeping situation as a key area for improvement. At least one of Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga are set to depart this summer.
Inter’s Onana is a prime target for the club and they are willing to offer midfielder Kovacic, formerly of the Milanese club and who is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in 2024, in a swap deal for the former Cameroon international shot-stopper. The future of Lukaku meanwhile, remains unclear.
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As detailed by Inter Live, Kovacic is the latest makeweight to be offered by Chelsea following unsuccessfully suggesting Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathaniel Chalobah and Mendy in part-exchange for Onana, but they will not give up. Kovacic is said to be open to the move.
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The Cameroon goalkeeper, who retired from international duty after the World Cup last year, joined Inter from Ajax last summer. He had made 214 first-team appearances for the Dutch club prior to his move to Serie A.
Onana, 27, has starred for the Nerazzurri this campaign. They have reached the finals of both the Champions League and Coppa Italia, despite a slightly underwhelming Serie A season which sees them currently sit third in the standings.
Meanwhile, wantaway goalkeeper Mendy is set to depart Chelsea anyway this summer and is being lined up by Tottenham, who are seeking a replacement for Hugo Lloris.