Chelsea could be one of the Premier League's busiest clubs this summer, in spite of the slow start to the transfer window with plenty of uncertainty throughout the first-team squad. Todd Boehly's early days at the club are likely to be dominated by transfer planning with a number of high-profile names reportedly targeted already.
The departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already been confirmed by Thomas Tuchel but they may not be the last to leave. Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have all been linked with moves away and it remains to be seen what the first-team squad will consist of when the transfer window closes.
Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Spurs have made acquisitions already but there is still plenty of time to go in this huge period of time for Chelsea who are undergoing a transition phase from the Roman Abramovich era to the Boehly consortium dawn.
READ MORE: Ousmane Dembele, Jules Kounde, Gabriel Jesus: Possible Chelsea line-up for Premier League opener
With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at the latest names to be linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
Jules Kounde
Petr Cech and Sevilla's director had delivered updates on Chelsea's main centre-half target which only reaffirmed the expectation that Kounde would become a blue in the near future.
On top of this, the 23-year-old availability now to discuss transfer and personal terms having finished international duty last night with France made a Blues move somewhat imminent which would be music to the ears of manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, one European team in particular is looking to throw a spanner in the works and it isn't Barcelona.
According to Rudy Galetti, Bayern Munich have emerged as the latest club to enter the race to sign Jules Kounde. The report in the German media goes on to clarify that Julian Nagelsmann wants a new central defensive option to compensate for Niklas Sule's departure to Borussia Dortmund.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Amid reports that Chelsea are already offering a financial package to a player who Napoli value close to £36million with the short length left on his deal, the latest rumours seem to indicate that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is planning showdown and potential exit talks with the Senegalese international.
Although, this doesn't mean that if all goes the Blues' way that they will land Edouard Mendy's international teammate. This is because Barcelona, despite all their financial woes, are keen to sign a player who has the potential to become Xavi's version of Gerard Pique in that youthful Blaugrana backline.
Romelu Lukaku
This Inter Milan return doesn't seem anywhere near imminent to happening at this current moment. But when or if it does eventually happen, it is being reported that the deal will have a hell of a domino effect on the European transfer scene.
That’s what they think in Italy, as explained in quotes picked up on SportWitness. They claim that his situation is "blocking half of Europe". The idea is that once Lukaku signs for Inter, they can move on Lautaro Martinez, and sign Paulo Dybala.
That in essence frees up Juventus to spend Dybala’s wages elsewhere, it means that the team that signs Lautaro can move on their existing striker options, and so on down the chain. But this hypothetical all depends on Lukaku.
Sergino Dest
These rumours seem to be simmering under the surface as Barcelona look to get creative in their negotiations with the Stamford Bridge outfit.
It is well known already that Xavi wants both Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta to become new signings for 2022/23 but for this to happen, funds and space off the wage bill needs to be created. Alongside Frenkie de Jong, who Is expected to complete a move very soon to Manchester United, US international Sergino Dest is another player who could be let go.
According to 90min, Tuchel will be given final say on Alonso's future, and will be given the chance to sign Dest in a swap deal.
