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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
James Robson

Roman Abramovich to back Thomas Tuchel this summer after Chelsea boss earns trust

Thomas Tuchel will be backed in the summer, with Roman Abramovich convinced he is the man to challenge Manchester City’s dominance.

The Chelsea manager delivered the Club World Cup on Saturday night - his third trophy in nine months.

And his employers - including the watching Abramovich - believe he would be seriously competing with Pep Guardiola for the Premier League title if not for injuries and Covid cases in recent months.

With that in mind, they intend to give him the resources to address key areas of the squad - particularly in central defence.

Chelsea’s hierarchy were impressed Tuchel did not make wholesale demands in the January transfer window when losing Ben Chilwell and Reece James through injuries. And his willingness to put the long-term interests of the club ahead of his own have deepened the trust that he will make sound decisions in the market this summer.

Jules Kounde from Sevilla is the top choice centre back on his wish list, while midfielders Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni have been identified as options.

Conor Gallagher will return from loan at Crystal Palace.

A further centre back could be targeted dependent on contract negotiations with Toni Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Chelsea led the table by six points in November, but are 16 behind champions City after an alarming slump over Christmas and New Year. But the Club World Cup was their second trophy of the season, following success in the European Super Cup in August.

They could add the Carabao Cup at the end of the month when they face Liverpool at Wembley.

Barring a collapse during the remainder of the campaign, Tuchel can expect to be given the support to go at City again.

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