Incoming Chelsea manager Pochettino makes huge transfer decision

Manchester City could secure a third consecutive Premier League title by beating struggling Chelsea at The Etihad on Sunday. 

The Citizens had trailed Arsenal for much of the season before a win over the Gunners last month allowed them to move into top spot.

Mikel Arteta’s side have now failed to win five of their last seven league games, meaning City need just three more points to lift the trophy for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s side will fancy their chances of defeating Chelsea, with the west London outfit having endured a dismal campaign so far.

The Blues have won just five of their last 26 Premier League matches and currently sit 11th in the table, behind the likes of Fulham and Brentford.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the club’s new permanent manager in the coming weeks, succeeding interim manager Frank Lampard.

The Argentine will have plenty of difficult decisions to make this summer as he contends with Chelsea’s inflated squad, but it appears that he has already made a huge decision ahead of the transfer window.

As per 90min, Chelsea remain interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, with Pochettino keen to work with the player.

Rice is expected to be the subject of significant interest from a number of clubs this summer

It is claimed that the 51-year-old will sign his contract to become the club’s new manager in the coming days, and he has already been looking ahead to the upcoming transfer window.

The Blues have been linked with a move for their former academy star Rice for over a year now, and the report claims that Pochettino is in agreement that the club should make a move for the Hammers star.

Rice, 24, has established himself as one of the best central midfielders in Europe in recent seasons and has captained West Ham this season following the departure of Mark Noble last summer.

The England international’s current contract is set to expire next summer, though, leaving West Ham in a tricky position.

They could choose to sell him this summer in order to avoid losing him for free next year, but it is claimed that the Hammers would demand at least £100 million for the player.

Chelsea are expected to be in the market for at least one new central midfielder this summer, despite signing Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January.

N’Golo Kante is set to be out of contract this summer but the report claims that the club are continuing to work on a new deal for the Frenchman, while the futures of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher remain in doubt.