Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season but the uncertainty over the sale of the Premier League club by former owner Roman Abramovich left a degree of uncertainty over the make up of their squad.
There were significant departures from Stamford Bridge as a result with defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen the most high-profile players to exit, both on free transfers, while club record signing Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan.
The arrival of new American owner Todd Boehly has calmed the waters to some degree and the signings of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have been welcomed by fans, but Blues boss Thomas Tuchel still has work to do. Mirror Sport has rounded up the latest Chelsea transfer news, rumours and gossip.
Madrid concerns over Werner deal
Timo Werner’s rapid slide has been underlined yet again with Real Madrid reportedly having second thoughts about signing him. All routes out of Stamford Bridge seem to come up against a roadblock for the 26-year-old German flop. It seems like Tuchel doesn’t know what to do with him - and, worryingly for Werner, potential takers are also at sixes and sevens over a deal. Werner has been linked with a shock move to Arsenal in the last 24 hours, but whether that remains a goer only time will tell.
Spanish outlet Fichajes report that Madrid are cooling on a plan to sign Werner. The Spanish giants seemed to hope that the striker’s desperation to go to the World Cup might see him firing on all cylinders to get to Qatar. Now it appears even a deal with cut price wages is not going to convince Madrid to do business. It’s all proving a massive problem for both Chelsea and the player. He’s just failed to hit the anticipated numbers since joining them for £53m two years ago.
Thomas Tuchel only started him in 15 Premier League games last campaign despite the problems surrounding Lukaku. While Werner still has goodwill with a number of fans at the club, his critics point to 23 goals in 89 appearances. Even a loan move back to RB Leipzig isn’t without obstacles because he’d have to take a pay cut of up to 50 per cent on his wages which are reportedly £270,000 a week.
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De Jong primed for move
Chelsea are hot on the news agenda in Spain right now with Sport claiming Tuchel could win the race for Barcelona star Frankie de Jong. That really would be one in the eye for Manchester United who have thrown the kitchen sink at trying to get the Netherlands international to Old Trafford. United had agreed a £72m deal to sign the 25-year-old who has been Erik ten Hag’s top target all summer.
But De Jong has repeatedly walked away from it because he wants Champions League football. However, Sport claim he is open to a move to London and that could be the clincher. Barca are looking for a cash injection to help finance a move for Man City’s Bernardo Silva.
Cucurella deal 'agreed'
Chelsea are reportedly making serious progress in their move to sign Marc Cucurella with personal terms now 'fully agreed' with the Spanish defender according to the Daily Express. Chelsea had already missed out on Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde with options decreasing by the week. But Manchester City's hesitation to meet Brighton's valuation for Cucurella opened the door for Chelsea to swoop in with an offer of their own as Tuchel looks to strengthen his defensive options.
