Thomas Tuchel will not prioritise bringing in a midfielder at Chelsea in the remaining weeks of the transfer window
That is despite their reported interest in Frenkie de Jong, who has long been linked with a move to Manchester United. The Blues have recently entered the race for the Dutchman with Barcelona potentially open to selling as they look to balance the books.
De Jong has shown no great desire to join the Red Devils, who cannot offer Champions League football. The midfielder would also prefer to live in London if he does end up leaving London, but Tuchel's focus in the coming weeks is not to bolster his midfield options.
He told Sky Sports : "Yeah, if we can add, we add. Maybe not necessarily a midfielder as a first option but we’re open for everything. I think we can use new energy, new legs and fresh input to bring us to a new level. If not, then we will push this team but I think we could use some more input and some more quality. We’re on it but we will not tell you [who]."
That could keep United in the race, but they still have some convincing to do. Erik ten Hag worked with Frenkie de Jong previously at Ajax and is keen to reunite with the midfielder, but the feeling doesn't appear mutual at present which could force United to pursue other options.
It was a midfielder who scored Chelsea's winner on the opening weekend as Jorginho converted from the spot at Everton. The Italian is one of several options in the middle of the park alongside Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante - although the latter's contract is winding down.
Have your say! Where will De Jong end up this summer? Tell us what you think here.
The Blues also bought in the highly-rated Carney Chukwuemeka this week from Aston Villa with the teenager hailed by Todd Boehly as one of Europe's finest young players - and he is expected to get minutes throughout the season.
Chelsea's focus this summer has been on bolstering their defensive options following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, who both left on free transfers. Kalidou Koulibaly has come in from Napoli with Marc Cucurella recently joining from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Marcos Alonso was left out of Saturday's squad with Tuchel confessing a move to Barcelona is close, which could force the Blues back into the market. The German said: "That is the case. He tries to leave and we agreed to this wish. That's why it would not have made sense to put him on the pitch today. He would've been on the pitch otherwise but in this situation, it was the right thing to do."
