Chelsea's new owners will discover the last few weeks have been the calm before the storm as the 2021-22 season finally draws to a close.
The extended international window has stopped the usual free-for-all out of respect for the players still taking part in meaningful Nations League clashes with their countries. In many ways, that has been a blessing at the end of such a turbulent season as it has given the new hierarchy breathing space to organise their thoughts and targets.
But with no summer tournament to keep a check on the transfer jostling, Todd Boehly are already being given a taste of what they are letting themselves in for with the European transfer market as the powerful Spanish media swings into gear. Mirror Sport checks out the latest Chelsea transfer news and rumours.
Barca join Kounde battle
“Kounde, la prioridad” roars Mundo Deportivo, leaving little to be lost in translation. Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has put Chelsea target Jules Kounde top of his own shopping list as he looks to rebuild the Spanish giants from the back. The 23-year-old France international defender now looks set for surgery after he was taken off injured in the 1-0 defeat to Croatia last night that leaves the current World Champions bottom of their group without a single win in four attempts. A medical procedure could rule him out of an important pre-season, but Sevilla are still hoping to get the £51.8m price tag to open up funds for a much-needed rebuild themselves.
At the same time, they would prefer to sell to Chelsea than one of their La Liga rivals. With Andreas Christensen leaving Stamford Bridge alongside Antonio Rudiger, the negotiations look set to accelerate very quickly despite this latest setback with financial terms believed to be all but sorted with the players’ representatives.
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No rest for Romelu
While most players are using the end of the international campaign as a chance to go on a well-earned break, Corriere dello Sport suggest Romelu Lukaku is headed straight back to London to try to sort his future out before the end of the month. Reports from Italy suggest the £20m it will cost Inter to loan back their former player may be beyond their means and will certainly strain their interest at a time where every euro is being stretched as thinly as possible.
Otherwise, the attraction of a return to London could be a change to sit down with Todd Boehly and try to resolve the impasse with Thomas Tuchel, who fell out with his star striker over an interview in which he questioned the tactics of the Chelsea manager. Since then an uneasy calm has settled it is certainly the first diplomatic crisis the new consortium have walked into.
Advances with Wolves
Tuchel’s route and branch overhaul is certainly not just about the big names as the Chelsea manager wants to be stronger across the board to compete more consistently. With Marcos Alonso also being linked with an exit, Tuchel is looking to recruit quantity as well as quality.
And while the spine of his team is the priority, he also needs to ensure that he has a genuine rival to Ben Chilwell with such a high work-rate demanded of his wing-backs. Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri cost the Midlands club only the £10m in loan fees when they made his loan move from Angers a permanent one 12 months ago and has been linked with Chelsea by the Daily Mail.
