Chelsea have just one week remaining to get all of their transfer business concluded for the summer, with the window set to close on September 1 until January 2023. The past few months have been crucial to the club, with survival on the line in terms of ownership quickly followed up by the need to rebuild the squad.
The loss of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in particular were huge blows to Thomas Tuchel, with the pair being crucial to how the German set up his backline. On the loss of the duo, he said: "We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. We are rebuilding. This is always challenging but we are up for the challenge."
That challenge got off to a tough start as the likes of Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligt - targets for the Blues - joined rival clubs in Europe. After many setbacks, A pairing of Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella made their way through the door at Stamford Bridge.
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However, Tuchel seems unlikely to stop there as his side continue to be linked with a plethora of players to improve the backline. With just one week left, there's still time to get some deals over the line, so with that said, here's a look at the remaining deals that could make for a dream defence for the manager.
Wesley Fofana
In football's worst kept secret, Chelsea are interested in Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana. The Blues have had three bids rejected by the Foxes for the Frenchman, with the latest of those being in the region of £70million with add-ons.
At just 21-years-old, Fofana has shown the maturity to be a consistent performer in the Premier League despite injury setbacks since he joined form Saint Etienne in October 2020. His ability to play in a back three is ideal for Tuchel and at such a young age, Stamford Bridge could see many years of the centre-back at his very best.
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire is a footballer who divides opinion like very few at the top of the game, with polarising views on his ability by fans and pundits alike. However, he could be a top player in the wrong system, which is where a move to Chelsea could revitalise his career and image.
The United captain has made errors, though plenty have been born through a dysfunctional team that has forced the centre-back to defend in unusual positions and put out fires caused by his own teammates. Add to that a switch in style that saw former boss Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer transition from counter-attacking football to possession-based football with a higher line and it caused issues for the England international as well as the rest of the team.
Under Tuchel, Maguire would have the protection of being in a back three and wouldn't have to play in such a high line. Off the ball, he is able to take up deeper defending positions, such as those occupied by Thiago Silva, and on the ball he is more than capable of picking a pass or carrying it forward.
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