Mauricio Pochettino will target two key areas in transfer market with key man off

talkSPORT understands the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain head coach will take over at Stamford Bridge next season, having verbally agreed to accept the role.

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Pochettino will be Chelsea's fourth manager in a year, with new co-owner Todd Boehly already axing Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, before naming Frank Lampard on an interim basis.

Club legend Lampard is expected to see out the season, despite so far losing all four matches upon his return to the dugout.

There's much work to be done in west London ahead of the 2023/24 season, with a bloated squad in need of trimming after their new ownership spent a record £600million in a single campaign.

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Despite the jaw-dropping investment, there are somehow still clear gaps in the squad too, which Pochettino will look to fill.

Discussing the areas of improvement, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano told Caught Offside: "For targets, it's still early to mention names but for sure Chelsea will go for new number 6, new striker and the rest will be discussed in the next weeks, including the Mason Mount situation."

Chelsea have the fifth fewest goals in the Premier League, with 30 in 31 games, despite spending more than £200m on forward recruits under Boehly.

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Romelu Lukaku is set to return from his loan at Inter, while Napoli's Victor Osimhen has been strongly linked.

In the number six position, or defensive midfield, Chelsea have already broken the English transfer fee record to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107m, but look set to lose N'Golo Kante with his contract expiring.

The Blues are expected to be in the running for Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, while West Ham's Declan Rice continues to be linked.