MAURICIO POCHETTINO is reportedly desperate to sell Chelsea’s four-man ‘bomb squad’ before pre-season begins next week.
The Blues have offloaded several stars this summer including Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Mauricio Pochettino hosted a barbecue to improve staff moraleGetty
ReutersChristian Pulisic, left, and Hakim Ziyech both want to leave Chelsea[/caption]
APRomelu Lukaku could return to Inter Milan[/caption]
GettyChelsea want to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang[/caption]
But they are eager to secure the departures of four wantaway players – Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, report The Telegraph.
Pochettino wants to work with players who want to be at the club, so the return of one of the ‘bomb squad’ to pre-season could create a bit of a headache for the new boss.
He could have to decide whether to keep them apart from his main squad, with pre-season at Cobham to begin next Wednesday.
The foursome may also be left out of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America which begins on July 17.
There are reportedly fears that would leave behind a B-team training group which could spark unrest while the rest of team are away.
Pochettino has already begun re-building Chelsea following their 12th-placed finish last season and is attempting to improve moral.
He even threw a barbecue on his first day in charge for both football and non-football Chelsea staff – something which was a regular event during the off-season while Poch was at Tottenham.
Fortunately for Chelsea all four of the ‘bomb squad’ have suitors interested in buying them.
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Hakim Ziyech was on the verge of joining Al-Nassr before failing a medical, but there is still believed to be interest in the winger from Saudi Arabia.
Al Ettifaq are reportedly eyeing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after being taken over by Steven Gerrard.
While Christian Pulisic has been subject to bids from Lyon and AC Milan and is said to be keen to join the latter.
Romelu Lukaku also wants to move to Italy after spending the season on loan at Inter Milan.
The Champions League runners-up want to sign the striker and are set to ramp up their efforts after selling Marcelo Brozovic.
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