Thomas Tuchel has outlined the profile of defender he would like Todd Boehly to sign before the transfer window slams shut. Chelsea have been heavily linked with a number of centre-backs this summer, namely Jules Kounde, but the German is after a specific archetype who can pave the west Londoners' transition into a new formation.
This follows the Blues' four-goal loss to Arsenal in pre-season, where Tuchel found no success alternating between a back-five and a back-four. And as a result, the clash alerted Chelsea to an area of the pitch that needs bolstering — the Antonio Rudiger role.
The 29-year-old, who earned his stripes operating as a left-sided centre-half in a back-five, swapped Stamford Bridge for the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, and Chelsea are still yet to fill the void he left behind. So, Tuchel has made it his mission to find a replacement.
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Speaking to the official Chelsea website, the Blues boss said: "We are looking for guys who can play on the left side. Toni [Rudiger] played on the left side and was not a left-footed guy, so maybe Kalidou can play there because he plays in a back-four on the left side, but let's see what is possible.
"It is not only about bringing players in for numbers; we need numbers, we also need quality, so we will make some decisions late, not only about players but also about systems. Ideally, we would have a left-footer."
So we, football.london, have taken a look at potential candidates who could fill the vacant 'Rudiger role' at Chelsea — market values courtesy of CIES Football Observatory where applicable.
Presnel Kimpembe - low risk, medium reward
Presnel Kimpembe has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer amid an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain. According to The Times, the 26-year-old has held talks with the Blues ahead of a potential move to west London.
The France international, who sees his contract at Les Parc des Princes expire in June 2024, featured 41 times for the French giants this season, steering the club towards another Ligue 1 title. Kimpembe's impressive displays helped Mauricio Pochettino sustain the best defensive record in the league, though his efforts weren't enough to navigate PSG into the latter stages of the Champions League.
Josko Gvardiol - high risk, high reward
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have both been closely following Josko Gvardiol this summer. However, according to Croatian outlet Sportske, the 20-year-old defender is set to agree a new deal at RB Leipzig.
The report claims that his newly-improved contract will include a release clause worth more than €50million (£43m), leaving the door open to a future move. Gvardiol is a left-footed defender - as everyone on this list - who is comfortable when in possession.
He's earned a reputation for his composure and ability to progress the ball through the thirds from deep - the epitome of an all-encompassing modern centre-back.
Levi Colwill - medium risk, high reward
Levi Colwill faces a somewhat uncertain future at Chelsea following an incredibly impressive season-long loan at Huddersfield Town. football.london understand that the 19-year-old be assessed by Tuchel in pre-season, but the Blues boss is under growing pressure to solve the teenager's future sooner rather than later amid great interest from several Premier League clubs.
The Cobham graduate, who sees his contract with the west Londoners expire in 2025, featured 29 times for the Terriers in the Championship, booking Carlos Corberán's side a raffle ticket for promotion into the top flight. Unfortunately for Colwill, Huddersfield fell at the final hurdle, but it's said that Chelsea are very impressed with his development nonetheless.
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