Chelsea boss Pochettino opens door for former side Spurs to sign star

Chelsea will be hoping to continue their fine run of form when they face Newcastle United after the international break. 

The Blues had started the season relatively poorly but beat rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 last week, ending Spurs’ unbeaten start to the campaign.

They then followed that up with a 4-4 draw against Manchester City in a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, meaning that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have picked up six points from four games against the ‘top six’ so far this term.

Despite their impressive performances of late, the Blues still sit eighth in the Premier League table and Pochettino will be expecting his side to climb into contention for the Champions League qualification spots in the coming weeks.

Off the pitch, though, the Argentine appears to have opened the door for his former side to sign one of Chelsea’s current defenders.

Centre-back Trevoh Chalobah has been told that he doesn’t feature in the club’s immediate plans, according to Football Insider.

Chalobah is said to be a target for Tottenham

The Englishman is said to be a target for Tottenham and Pochettino’s decision could therefore allow Spurs to make a sensational swoop for the player.

Chalobah, 24, is a product of Chelsea’s youth system and has made a total of 63 appearances for his boyhood club across all competitions.

Despite featuring regularly under previous managers Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, the central defender has fallen out of favour since Pochettino’s arrival and is yet to make a single appearance under the Argentine.

He appears to be behind the likes of Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in the pecking order of central defenders at Stamford Bridge.

Chalobah’s current contract with Chelsea is set to run until the summer of 2028, but it appears increasingly unlikely that he will remain in West London until that date.

Spurs are in need of defensive reinforcements following an injury sustained by Micky van de Ven during the defeat to Chelsea.

The Dutchman pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first half and isn’t expected to return to action until 2024.