Chelsea have a huge summer ahead of them, with the transfer window just days away from opening. With Todd Boehly ’s takeover finally complete, Thomas Tuchel can finally get to work with planning his recruitment.
Reports suggest that following the deal, the German coach will have £200million to invest in the market, while he is expected to take the lead in any decisions made over signings. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the manager for the project he is envisioning at the club.
Discussing the challenges of the upcoming window, Tuchel said: “We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. We are rebuilding. This is always challenging but we are up for the challenge.” One of the areas for rebuilding will be the defence. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are both set to leave at the end of their contracts, leaving limited options at centre-back.
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While a number of players have been linked to fill the void left by the two departing defenders, Sky Sports has reported that PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe is a target on the shortlist. The 26-year-old has been a regular first-team star for the Ligue 1 side, along with his national team France.
The centre-back’s current deal expires in 2024, entering the usual time where talks would be held to avoid losing a player on a free or with one-year remaining on their deal. However, according to L’Equipe, via Hadrien Grenier, Kimpembe is looking to earn a salary closer to Marquinhos, who had recently signed a new contract with the club.
Should the club fail to meet that, it could open up the door to a potential move for the Blues, though it remains to be seen whether that is a possibility.