Pochettino copies Mourinho blueprint with Chelsea demand for three key signings

Incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is looking to copy one of Jose Mourinho's most effective strategies as he prepares to take over the London club this summer. 

 The Blues are expected to appoint him by the end of this week, bringing an end to their search for Graham Potter's successor, and Pochettino is ready to mark his stamp on the squad ahead of a busy summer. 

It is believed Pochettino has been briefed by Todd Boehly and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart on the club's plans to reduce the size of their squad, which has 31 players not including those out on loan. 

 That could see Hakim Ziyech, Pulisic, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, Koulibaly and Mateo Kovacic leave the club this summer, with more joining the exodus such as Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi. 

 But once this has been completed, the Argentine coach is keen to bolster his team with three new signings - a goalkeeper, midfielder and a new No 9 - as he looks to copy Mourinho's strategy of constructing a 'spine' with his new team. 

 In his first campaign at Chelsea in 2004-05, Mourinho set about forming a small group of senior players for which his side could rely upon as the key men.

They were Petr Cech, who was only 22 then and an obscure figure outside of France, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, a £24million signing from Marseille. 

 Cech succeeded Carlo Cudicini as the No 1 shot-stopper, while Lampard was already an important member of the team. 

 Drogba took a time to settle into his role of spearheading the attack, but still celebrated winning two Premier League titles in a row from 2004 to 2006. 

All three players would then become leaders within the squad after being nurtured by Mourinho. And as he looks to bring a new culture to Stamford Bridge after a poor season under Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, Pochettino may have an idea for which players can fill the spots he needs in his team. 

 Brentford duo David Raya and Ivan Toney have shone as some of the best performers in the Premier League this campaign. 

 Raya is expected to leave the Bees and the Spain international possesses superior shot-stopping and distribution abilities than Kepa or Edouard Mendy. 

 Toney has bagged 20 goals in the Premier League this season and has been compared to Drogba for the manner he leads the line as a target man and his approach to finishing. 

If Victor Osimhen is tough to sign, the striker would represent a fine option. He might also view Declan Rice as the perfect partner for Enzo Fernandez. 

The West Ham star is set to spark a tug-of-war between the top sides in the Premier League and the Hammers are ready to demand £120m for the player.