Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino holds talks with sporting directors as £52m blow is confirmed

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says he's held talks with the club's sporting directors and will keep an eye open on potentials in the January transfer window. 

Pochettino's team will be missing striker Nicolas Jackson for the AFCON and the manager also confirmed French forward Christopher Nkunku will miss the game against Middlesbrough due to a hip injury he picked up in training. 

Asked if the latest developments have led to a change in plans in the transfer window, Pochettino said: "We keep a good relationship and I think everything is very well. Conversations, are normal conversations that we need to have and if something appears we will say it but what we have had is just normal." 

On Nkunku's potential long layoff, he said: "It's not related to his old injury, it's a different problem. An issue in his hip, we are cautious with him because it is six months since his injury and few games. He won't be involved tomorrow, we will see on Saturday. Hope it is not a long period. At the moment he is not training, he is recovering. Not a big issue."

Chelsea will aim to reach the final of the League Cup and hope that they snatch glory at Wembley to make up for what has been an underwhelming league campaign so far. But Pochettino who was Tottenham's manager when Chelsea last won the League Cup against the Lilywhites says the best approach is to take things one step at a time. 

He added: "We were talking today with the players and it is about performing tomorrow and we need to perform in the best way.

"We watched Liverpool vs Arsenal and saw how tough it is to play, against Liverpool or Fulham. Step by step is the most important thing and expending the energy tomorrow is important and not think about the second leg we need to come back with a victory and finish at Stamford Bridge."

Chelsea have won the League Cup five times with the new owners desperate for their first silverware.