By Fraser Fletcher, Transfer Correspondent

5th Jul, 2023 | 1:35pm

Revealed: Lautaro Martinez would 'love to work' Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea deal accelerates - sources

Lautaro Martinez wants to team up with Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, sources have told Football Insider.

Claims that Martinez doesn’t want a move to England are believed to be wide of the mark and the striker is keen to make the switch to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old would “love to work with Pochettino”, sources say, and the respect is mutual with the Blues boss believed to be a big fan of the Inter Milan striker.

Pochettino is on the hunt for a pressing forward to add to his attacking line for next season.

Martinez is on a shortlist of several targets including Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Vlahovic is believed to be an increasingly appealing option due to his price tag of around £43million.

Back in May, Football Insider revealed that Pochettino had been eyeing up Martinez even before he was appointed as boss.

The Londoners are in desperate need of a goalscorer within their ranks next season after the failed signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku.

Football Insider revealed last month (14 June) that Lukaku wants to quit Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea have held talks with Inter Milan over a potential permanent move for the Belgian after he spent the 2022-23 season on loan with the Italian giants.

The Blues ended a disappointing Premier League campaign 12th in the table, behind teams such as Crystal Palace, Fulham and Brentford.

Pochettino’s side will also be without European football for the 2023-24 season.

In other news, Kieran Maguire drops ‘cryptic’ Roman Abramovich verdict amid £2.3bn Chelsea twist.