Chelsea's summer rebuild is finally underway after a slow start to the transfer window. Thomas Tuchel has looked to address gaps in his squad by adding Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly to his ranks.
The German coach is unlikely to stop there though, with plenty more work to be done with both arrivals and departures within his side. The defence appears to be a priority after the loss of some key players, while the forward lines need a refresh after the Blues struggled to find their way to goal last campaign.
However, looking ahead for the long-term, the midfield is also an area of upcoming concern. While the futures of Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher seem secure, the same cannot be said of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante.
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The pair are into their final 12-months under contract at Stamford Bridge, creating a potential dilemma over their immediate future as well as how the midfield ranks may look next summer. football.london understands talks are yet to begin with either player over a new deal as things stand.
Plenty of options have been linked with a move to plug that potential gap in the centre of the pitch, with one of those being Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong. The Blues aren't alone though as Premier League rivals Manchester United are said to have agreed a fee with the Spanish side for the Netherlands international.
While that may seem a blow to Tuchel, the player appears reluctant to join the Red Devils. That's because, according to Sport, the 25-year-old views the club as "erratic" and the lack of Champions League football doesn't help.
The report adds that the midfielder wouldn't rule out a move to Stamford Bridge, with a "clear project" under Tuchel as well as the allure of Champions League football. It could see the west London outfit quickly leapfrog their league opponents to a signing should they agree a fee.
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