Chelsea is intensifying their efforts to secure the services of a £53m star player, with Mauricio Pochettino managing Premier League match, reports journalist Paul

Brown from GIVEMESPORT.

Following a disastrous season, Chelsea recognizes the need for reinforcements at Stamford Bridge.

One player on their radar is Manuel Ugarte, who has been garnering attention after an impressive campaign with Sporting CP in Portugal.

According to a report from Record, Chelsea has expressed interest in signing the 22-year-old midfielder.

It is believed that Ugarte's price tag could reach £53m, and Aston Villa is also vying for his signature.

Journalist Dean Jones recently stated in an interview with GIVEMESPORT that Ugarte is a more realistic target for Chelsea than Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.

Failing to qualify for any European competitions next season has prompted Chelsea to reassess their shortlist for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Sporting CP's manager, Ruben Amorim, has acknowledged the difficulty of retaining Ugarte, given the interest from multiple clubs and the club's inability to offer Champions League football. He said, "Obviously, it's difficult to keep players like him. There are several clubs interested, not just one, knowing that our project is not sold and that we missed the Champions League. It makes everything more difficult."

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City is close to finalizing personal terms with Mateo Kovacic, who will be leaving Chelsea. This development may prompt Chelsea to find a suitable replacement, and Ugarte could be the answer.

Paul Brown has praised Ugarte as an exciting prospect for Chelsea and indicated that the club is actively pushing for his signature this summer.

Brown stated, "Ugarte seems like quite an exciting option for Chelsea. He would bring more energy to the team, and being younger than Kovacic, he offers a different dynamic. Chelsea certainly appears to be making a concerted effort to secure his services."

Ugarte's statistics from this season justify Chelsea's interest. He has averaged 3.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, with a pass completion rate of 92%, according to Sofascore. Additionally, he leads the Portuguese top division in tackles per game and boasts the highest pass completion percentage among players who have started more than 10 matches, as reported by WhoScored. Photo by thearcticblues from United States of America, Wikimedia commons.